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APRIL,  1933 

VOLUME  36 
NUMBER  6 

Return  Postage  Guaranteed 
Salt  Lake  City.  Utah 


! 


THE  SUMMER  SESSION 

AT  THE 

Utah  State  Agricultural  College 

June  5  to  July  14 

Another  broad  and  varied  program  of  summer  work  will  be  given  at 

the  1933  Summer  Session  of  the  Utah  State  Agricultural  College.    Practic-  j 

ally  the  entire  resident  faculty,  including  department  heads,  will  offer  j 

I  courses  during  the  period  in  graduate  and  under-graduate  work.    Several  j 

I  brilliant  educators  from  leading  colleges  and  universities  will  offer  courses  | 

f  in  various  fields.  | 

j  SPECIAL   FEATURES  j 

j  BAND  AND  ORCHESTRA:    Superior  high  school  music  students,  selected  | 

I  from  the  intermountain  region  will  form  a  demonstration  band,  to  be  | 

1  directed  by  Professor  A.  R.  McAllister  of  Joliet,  Illinois.  j 

I  1 

]  SMITH  HUGHES:    A  national  authority.  ! 

I  1 

j  EDUCATION:     Special  clinic  courses,  conducted  by  eminent  visiting  edu-  i 

I  cators.  I 

I  i 

I  COACHING  AND  PHYSICAL  EDUCATION :    The  College  will  continue  its  [ 

j  distinguished  program  in  coaching,  physical  education  and  recreation.  j 

i  I 

I  LECTURE   PROGRAM  i 

I  i 

I  Dr.  Henry  Neumann,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.    Ethics  and  Literature  j 

I  : 

j  Dr.  William  T.  Foster,  New  York  City.    A  leading  American  j 

j  Economist,  who  will  analyze  our  critical  times  I 


Dr.  Albert  Guerard,  Stanford  University,  English  and  Speech 
Professor  S.  H.  Slichter,  Harvard  University,  Economist 


Write  for  a  Catalog 


! 


I 
I 
I 

! 

1  REGISTRATION  FEE  $15  1 

I  .  I 

j  Utah  State  Agricultural  College  i 

j  LOGAN,  UTAH  j 

I 

1 


321 


APRIL,   193  3  t  rC>fflL      „    .  ^t"\}'^Tll'^^'"''  r..- 

%,  .  ,  .  IBH^  II     V^«^»lk        Harrison  R.  Merrill,  Managing  Editor 

Volume    Jo,   JN  umber  6  Elsie  Talmage  Brandley,  Asso.  Editor 

Organ  of  the  Priesthood  Quorums^  the  Mutual  Improvement  Associations 

and  the  Department  of  Education 


FORECAST 

pUROPE,  right  now,  holds  the 
center  of  interest  despite  the 
troubles  in  the  Orient,  for  in 
Europe  great  world  movements 
which  will  affect  this  and  all 
other  countries  arc  born.  Elder 
John  A.  Widtsoe,  who  for  sev- 
eral years  as  President  of  the 
European  Mission  has  been  visit- 
ing the  various  countries,  con- 
tributes an  interesting  article  on 
the  European  situation  to  our 
May  number. 


A  MONG    other    articles    of    in- 
terest are,    "With   the   Inter- 
national Ice  Patrol,"    "The  Lion 
House     Social     Center,"      "This 
Thing  of  Being  Unemployed." 


(^ARLA  WOLFE  will  be  repre- 
sented among  the  fiction  with 
a  story,  "A  Tall  Dark  Man." 
Other  stories  will  be  "The  Cata- 
logue Mother,"  "Old  Shep,"  and 
the  second  installment  of  the 
serial,    "Forever  or  Never." 


The  Cover 

'  I  ^HE  cover  picture  is  a  repro- 
duction of  J.  T.  Harwood's 
famous  painting  of  Christ  on 
Galilee  calling  his  apostles  to 
service.  The  original,  which 
hung  in  the  January  exhibit  at 
the  State  Capitol,  has  won  the 
artist  international  fame. 


For  Every  Member  of  the  Fafnily 
EDITORIALS 

Welcome   April   - — 35  2 

Apostle  Reed  Smoot  _— — 35  2 

Be  Not  Deceived  -_ 352 

June  Conference  Challenges  _ 1 353 

ARTICLES 

Religion   As   Creative   Experience . Adam   S.    Bennion  3  23 

The  Frontispiece  - - — Alice  M.   Home  324 

Bear  Dance - Karl  E.  Young  328 

Governor  C.   Ben  Ross Lamont  Johnson  332 

Preparing  the  Soil  for  Flowers — J.  H.  Olsen  335 

Let's  Plant  a  Flower  Garden __: Maud  Chegwidden  3  37 

Protecting  the  American  Job _!-..____. ._ W.  J.   Holder  342 

Why  The  Rocky  Mountain  Faculty  Athletic  Conference-- Ra/p/j  J.  Gilmore  346 

Christmas  Trees  Alive  at  Our  Doors J.  H.  Paul  350 

Book   Reviews     -,- . 351 

Silver  Linings  - j-_____— _„- Claire  W.  Noall  354 

Glancing  Through  -—Elsie  T.  Brandley  356 

Lights  and  Shadows  on  the  Screen 358 

FICTION 

Forever  Or  Never  --  — , - -- True  B.   Harmsen    3  26 

KnoviTs  All,  Sees  All  and  Tells  All    -.___-_. - Helen  C.  Lloyd   338 

POETRY 

April        —   —   —    - — .Donald   A.   Eraser  325 

The  Bear  Dance  — — Olive  E.  W.  Burt  331 

Indestructible - Allen    Stephenson  344 

Prayer   . i -— -- Aurelia   Pyper  345 

Sixteen  Sings  -- Ardyth  Kennelly  348 

Evidence  - - Alberta  H.  Christensen  3  62 

The  Trees  ^ Fredrika  Borchard  3  74 

Friendship    : Juanita    Pulsipher  35  7 

Resignation  : Juanita  Pulsipher  3  63 

Awakening - ^ Juanita   Pulsipher  3  70 

DEPARTMENTS 

Melchizedek  Priesthood  -- — — .1 3  5  9 

Aaronic    Priesthood I 3  6  1 

Mutual  Messages 

Executive   Department 3  64 

Seniors    — — 3  67 

M    Men — Gleaners    368 

Gleaner    Girls - 3  69 

Junior   Girls   3  70 

Bee-Hive    Girls    . 371 

Vanguards     — - 372 

Boy   Scouts   ^ , : 373 

Your  Page  and  Ours  _— 3  84 


Published  monthly  by  the 
GENERAL  BOARDS  OF  THE  MUTUAL  IMPROVEMENT  ASSOCIATIONS 


Melvin  J.  Ballard,  Business  Mgr. 

Clarissa  A.  Beesley,  Asso.  Bus.  Mgr. 

O.   B.  Peterson,  Ass't  Bus.  Mgr. 

George  Q.  Morris, 

Rachel  Grant  Taj'Ior, 

Chairmen  Era  and  Publicity 


EXECUTIVE  AND  EDITORIAL  OFFICES: 

406  CHURCH  OFFICE  BLDG.,  SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UT. 

Copyright,  1932,  by  the  Young  Men's  Mutual  Improvement 

Association    Corporation    of    the    Church    af   Jesus    Christ 

of  Latter-day   Saints.     All  rights  reserved. 

Subscription  price,  $2.00  a  year,  in  advance; 

20C  a  Single  Copy. 


Entered  at  the  Post  Office,  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah,  as  second-class 
matter.  Acceptance  for  mailing  at 
special  rate  of  postage  provided  for 
in  section  1103,  Act  of  October, 
1917,  authorized  July  2,   1918. 


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DR.  ADAM  S.  BENNION 


^K^igion  as 
(Creative  experience 

The  world  is  growing  weary  of  religions  which  are  passive^ 
ejfetninate  and  monotonous ;  many  sectarian  churches  are  com-par- 
atively  empty  and  ministers  are  becoming  discouraged.  In  the  fol- 
lowing article  a  man^  whose  religion  long  has  been  the  guiding  force 
of  his  life^  suggests  m^ethods  for  keeping  religion  alive  in  the 
hearts  of  others.  A  creative  thing  Dr.  Bennion  proves  it  to  be^  and 
he  proves  it  in  his  own  penetrating  style. 


TWO  circumstances  prompt- 
ed the  writing  of  this  ar- 
ticle. One  was  the  reading 
of  the  following  article  in  College 
Humor: 

"What  6iO  college  students  think 
about  religion  these  days?  I  shall 
speak  first  of  my  own  alma  mater 
because  I  happen  to  know  it  best. 
When  I  entered  Princeton  five 
years  ago,  they  were  just  finishing 
a  lovely  new  chapel. 

"Completed  in  the  spring  of 
1928,  the  Chapel  was  rightly  re- 
garded as  the  most  beautiful  as 
well  as  the  largest  of  its  kind 
among  American  universities.  Mr. 
Cram,  the  architect,  used  a  light 
grey  stone  throughout  and  achieved 
clear  simplicity  and  great  dignity 
of  line.  The  altar  carvings  and 
stained  glass  windows  were  the 
best  that  money  could  buy.  The 
eagle  lectern,  a  gift  from  President 
Hibben,  came  out  of  an  old  church 
in  France.  And  this  and  other 
lovely  details  were  united  to  in- 
spire young  men,  in  these  icono- 
clastic times,  to  a  genuine  religious 
faith. 

"Has  it  succeeded?  It  has  not. 
When  I  graduated  a  year  ago,  there 
was  no  more  religious  feeling  at 
Princje'ton  than  when  I  entered. 
And  there  was  mighty  little  then. 
We  had  'kein  talente  dazu,'  as  our 
old  German  professor  used  to  say." 

The  other  was  the  participation 
in  a  convention  in  Logan,  Utah, 
in  which  four  men  stood  up  under 
the  distinction  of  having  worked 
as  an  officer  or  teacher  in  a  partic- 


T)t.  Adam  S.  Bennion 

ular  organization  for  more  than 
fifty  years.  Each  man  testified 
with  that  indefinable  radiance  in 
his  countenance  that  he  had  found 
satisfaction  and  joy  beyond  meas- 
ure in  his  service. 

Everywhere  this  difference  in 
point  of  view  is  encountered.  To 
one  young  man,  religion  appears 
to  be  empty  formality,  or  vain 
speculation,  or  idle  disputation,  or 
unreasoned  mythology.  To  an- 
other it  is  the  inspiration  of  his 
life.  It  motivates  his  very  being 
and  sets  up  ideals  and  aspirations 


which  give  purpose  to  everything 
he  does. 

Almost  always  when  I  have  en- 
countered young  men  out  of  sym- 
pathy with  religion  they  have  had 
a  quarrel  with  some  one's  defini- 
tion or  interpretation  of  religion. 
They  have  taken  issue  with  prac- 
tices or  preachments  clearly  at 
variance  with  Christian  principles 
of  living.  They  have  rebelled  at 
arbitrary  rulings  of  orthodoxy  or 
at  negative  restraints  which  seemed 
to  strike  at  their  personal  liberty. 

npO  me,  Life  is  a  wonderful  ad- 
venture. Religion  is  a  creative 
interpretation  of  that  adventure  in 
the  light  of  God's  revelations  and 
of  man's  finest  thinking.  Religion 
really  is  the  binding  of  us  to  God 
and  to  one  another.  It  is  the  most 
creative  of  all  the  pursuits  of  life, 
"Religion  is  man's  search  for 
God  and  the  cooperative  quest  of 
the  society  of  God  upon  earth." 

What  finer  challenge  to  the  in- 
genuity and    devotion  of    young 


men 


All  too  frequently,  however,  we 
allow  the  creative  aspect  of  religion 
to  be  clouded  under  its  formalism 
or  its  restraints.  As  Harry  Emer- 
son Fosdick  says  in  his  "As  I  See 
Religion:" 

"We  defend  religion  too  much. 
Vital  religion,  like  good  music, 
needs  not  defense  but  rendition. 
A  wrangling  controversy  in  sup- 
port of  religion  is  precisely  as  if 
the  members  of  an  orchestra  should 
beat  folk  over  the  head  with  their 
violins    to    prove     that    music     is 


324 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April^  1933 


beautiful.  But  such  procedure  is 
no  way  to  prove  that  music  is 
beautiful.     Play  it!" 

Religion,  to  the  man  who  has 
really  caught  its  significance,  car- 
ries an  idea  of  re-birth,  or  re-dedi- 
cation. In  the  language  of  Rau- 
schenbusch  "The  fundamental 
purpose  of  Jesus  was  the  establish- 
ment of  the  kingdom  of  God, 
which  involved  a  thorough  regen- 
eration and  reconstruction  of  so- 
cial life."  (From  Christianity  and 
the  Social  Crisis.) 

CAUL,  on  his  way  to  Damascus, 

caught  the  enthusiasm  of  this 

regeneration.     The  scripture  says: 

"And  immediately  there  fell 
from  his  eyes  as  it  had  been  scales. 
And  he  received  sight  forthwith 
and  arose,  and  was  baptized." — 
Acts  9:18.  Under  the  urge  of 
that  rebirth  this  Saul,  become  Paul, 
could  declare: 

"For  to  me  to  live  is  Christ, 
and  to  die  is  gain." — Philippians 
1:21. 

The  Master  Himself  would 
have  appreciated  that  full  hearted 
response  for 

"In  him  was  life;  and  the  life 
was  the  light  of  man." — John  1 : 
1,  4. 

The  creative  genius  of  religion, 
even  in  worship,  is  hinted  in  the 
hymn: 

"Gladly  meeting,  kindly  greeting, 
As  each  meeting  shall  return. 

May  our  minds  by  study  brighten, 
May  our  aspirations  heighten, 

And  may  grace  our  souls  enlighten 
While  we  strive  to  learn." 

When  man  becomes  conscious  of 
the  divinity  that  is  in  him — when 
he  views  every  experience  as  it  may 
affect  his  eternal  development — 
then  his  religion  has  become  cre- 
ative. Then  his  religious  expe- 
rience becomes  an  opportunity — 
not  an  obligation. 

The  creative  attitude  becomes  a 
reality  at  every  turn.  Experience 
comes  to  be  a  divine  laboratory. 
Man  tries  eternity  under  the 
kindly  supervision  of  The  Great 
Teacher.  Ponder  the  creative  rich- 
ness of  these  challenges: 

1 .  The  Glory  of  The  Universe. 
Did  you  ever  stand  alone  under  a 
starlit  sky  and  ask  How? 

"The  heavens  declare  the  glory 
of  God;  and  the  firmament  shew- 
eth  his  handiwork."  Psalms  19:1. 

If  you  have  difficulty  in  satis- 
fying yourself  as  to  just  how  God 
directs  the  universe  try  projecting 


The  Frontispiece 

By  Alice  Merrill  Home 

ORSON  D.  CAMPBELL,  a  well 
known  artist  of  Utah,  slipped  on 
the  ice  on  a  walk  of  his  home  town, 
Provo,  Utah,  and  fell  fracturing  his  skull. 
The  fracture  resulted  in  his  death  ap- 
proximately twelve  hours  tifiter.  In  his 
passing  the  State  of  Utah  and  art  gen- 
erally has  lost  a  devoted  friend.  The 
Improvement  Era  had  planned  to  use  only 
the  paintings  of  living  artists  in  this  se- 
ries, but  since  Mr.  Campbell's  painting 
was  listed  to  appear,  and  since  his  un- 
timely death  cut  short  his  career  unex- 
pectedly, the  magazine  is  showing  his 
painting  this  month. 

"Noonday  in  the  Wasatch,"  the  Front- 
ispiece for  the  April  Era,  is  Orson  Camp- 
bell's typical  rendition.  He  thought  and 
painted  in  terms  of  Timpanogos,  Ameri- 
can Fork  Canyon,  and  the  glacier-fed 
Provo  River. 

This  early  summer  lyric  pictures  a  re- 
cess in  the  American  Fork  Canyon,  at 
high  noon.  Yellow  sunlight  filters  down 
through  leafy  sprays  of  young  aspens, 
and  dark  pine  tree-trunks,  spotting 
patches  of  lights  and  shadows  over  a  grass- 
green  carpet,  bef lowered  with  wild  mal- 
low and  columbine.  It  seems  but  a  brief 
hour  ago,  that  Campbell  was  painting 
those  two  matchless  winter  pictures  of 
the  dark  Provo  River,  in  the  heart  of 
Utah's  giant  mountains  that  were  shown 
in  January  in  the  marble  gallery  of  the 
State  Capitol  at  the  3 1  sf  Exhibition  of 
the  Utah  Art  Institute.  But  death  sud- 
denly stayed  the  painter's  hand;  no  more 
pictures  can  come  from  his  brush.  His 
collection,  which  we  thought  but  a  be- 
ginning of  his  great  life's  work,  will  be 
brought  together  in  a  memorial  exhibition, 
April  16,   1933. 

This  lovely  collection  is  a  worth-while 
heritage  to  the  Campbell  family, — nay, 
it  is  denied  none  of  us  who  seek  joy  in 
its  contemplation.  We  know  already, 
since  the  passing  of  John  Hafen,  George 
Ottinger,  Alfred  Lambourne,  and  Law- 
rence Squires,  that  artists  are  loved  best 
after  Death  stops  their  painting. 

Already  Orson  Campbell's  Memorial 
Collection  is  a  reality.  This  inspires  hope 
that  this  artist,  too,  will  be  appreciated 
and  kept  in  close  remembrance.  The  little 
Campbell  farm,  resting  on  the  spurs  of 
the  beautiful  mountain  will  not  be  planted 
this  spring  by  Orson's  careful  hand.  The 
children  will  miss  their  tender  father,  the 
wife,  whose  dually  round  of  work  con- 
tributed greatly  to  what  success  her  de- 
voted husband  wrung  from  an  exacting 
calling,  will  discover,  on  every  hand,  si- 
lent witnesses  of  him  who  has  gone.  "This 
is  the  mountain  he  loved  best  to  paint; 
that  the  river,  the  cloud,  shadow,  the 
tree,  the  misty  weather,  the  time  of  day, 
the  season  of  the  year — he  most  enjoyed." 

And  we  who  have  partaken,  even 
scantily  of  his  exalted  purpose,  have 
known  something  of  his  belief  in  his  gift, 
and  have  witnessed,  even  casually,  the 
courage  with  which  he  pursued  his  life's 
quest,  should  take  ample  time  to  review 
his  work  that  is  now  complete,  complete 
inasmuch  as  it  can  never  be  added  to  in 
this  life. 


the  universe  without  Him.  Try 
to  imagine  any  creation  without 
the  personality  of  the  creator.  Ask 
how  a  piano  comes  to  be  made! 
or  a  radio,  or  a  temple.  How  a 
star? 

Or  watch  a  violet  announce  a 
new  spring.  Or  stand  by  while  a 
dahlia  or  a  tulip  takes  on  new  life. 
Just  ask  how  much  of  certain  at- 
taches to  each  process.  God  in 
life  is  religion,  whether  in  the 
field  of  biology  or  out  across  the 
pulpit. 

2.  The  Quiet  of  Meditation. 
Being  is  a  fascinating  subject  for 
contemplation.  Who  Am  I?  How 
Did  I  Become  What  I  Am?  What 
Am  I  Destined  To  Become?  Sure- 
ly in  these  queries  lie  infinite  pos- 
sibilities for  creative  thinking.  The 
man  who  does  not  regularly  with- 
draw from  the  routine  of  daily  life 
to  face  these  major  issues  fails  to 
sound  life  to  its  depths.  One  of 
the  major  functions  of  religion  is 
to  prompt  and  direct  men  to  an 
analysis  of  the  status  of  their  soul 
growth.  Even  the  dullest  of  ser- 
mons can  stimulate  a  thoughtful 
man  to  take  stock  of  himself.  The 
thought  process  once  under  way, 
only  he  can  set  limits  to  the  in- 
quiries which  his  mind  supplies. 
To  the  man  who  thinks,  religion 
may  become  one  of  the  most  dy- 
namic and  one  of  the  most  chal- 
lenging realities  in  the  world. 

3.  Friendly  Communion.  Re- 
ligion always  carries  a  rich  impli- 
cation of  fellowship.  Fellowship 
with  God  and  with  our  fellow- 
men.  The  two  Great  Commands 
center  in  that  fellowship.  Jesus' 
constant  concern  was  that  his  fol- 
lowers might  be  bound  together 
in  the  bonds  of  friendship.  Re- 
ligion teaches  a  common  father- 
hood and  rests  upon  a  common 
brotherhood.  In  a  strange  way 
everyone  is  a  part  of  everyone  else. 
Literally  religion  has  as  its  great 
purpose  the  binding  of  us  all  into 
one  great  fellowship. 

"The  Spirit  itself  beareth  wit- 
ness with  our  spirit,  that  we  are 
the  children  of  God: 

"And  if  children,  then  heirs; 
heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs  with 
Christ;  if  so  be  that  we  suffer  with 
Him,  that  we  may  be  also  glorified 
together." — Romians    8:16,    17. 

It  is  true,  of  course,  that  we  can 
enjoy  the  comradeship  of  citizen- 
ship and  the  friendliness  of  social 
contacts  but  the  heightened  fellow- 
ship of  sacred  communion  tran- 
scends all  others.     The  group  soul 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


325 


made  possible  in  worship  calls  out 
the  best  in  men  as  does  nothing  else 
in  the  world. 

4,  The  Search  For  Truth.  In 
a  unique  way  religion  needs  the 
sustaining  strength  of  truth.  Re- 
ligion undertakes  to  lead  men  to 
the  full  development  of  their  la- 
tent potentialities.  All  truth  help- 
ful in  the  realization  of  that  ideal 

the  ally  of  religion.     Religion 


is 


welcomes  all  inquiry  and  is  eager 
to  adopt  newly  discovered  truths. 
When  a  church  discourages  inves- 
tigation it  is  only  because  some 
one  fails  to  grasp  the  all  inclu- 
sive scope  of  religion.  It  is  really 
suicidal  for  a  church  to  proscribe 
research.  Of  course,  men  may  well 
safeguard  against  the  conclusions 
and  theories  growing  out  of  that 
research  until  all  of  the  evidence  is 
in.  When  a  young  man  feels 
hampered  in  following  honest  in- 
quiry he  should  charge  the  dif- 
ficulty to  some  one's  narrow  inter- 
pretation and  not  to  any  limita- 
tion which  religion  would  set. 
"The  Truth  Shall  Make  You 
Free,"   is  a   religious  promise. 

5.  The  Heartening  Stimulus  of 
History.  So  often  young  men  feel 
a  sort  of  historical  restraint.  They 
seem  to  charge  the  history  of  their 
people  with  compelling  them  to 
walk  with  their  heads  ever  over 
their  shoulder.  The  shadow  of  the 
past  seems  often  to  darken  the  way 
ahead. 

Again,  of  course,  they  suffer 
from  misinterpretation.  "Our 
Forefathers  never  did  so  and  so" 
should  not  be  the  basis  of  a  ne- 
gation. In  what  they  did  lies  one 
of  the  greatest  challenges  any  gen- 
eration ever  received.  Let  the  young 
man  read  again  the  building  of  the 
Salt  Lake  Temple.  Let  him  recall 
that  its  foundations  were  laid  six 
years  after  the  pioneers  reached  this 
valley.  Let  him  see  the  sagebrush 
being  cleared  while  dreams  of  a 
Holy  House  were  shaping.  Let 
him  follow  through  forty  years  of 
sacrifice  and  devotion.  The  dedi- 
cation of  a  temple  will  then 
prompt  him  to  a  rededication  of 
his  own  energies  to  the  cause  which 
his  people  championed. 

Or  let  him  trudge  in  fancy  a 
thousand  miles  behind  a  handcart 
— let  him  stand  by  to  see  200  com- 
rades succumb  to  the  exposure  of 
a  cruelly  early  winter. 

Or  let  him  travel  in  fancy  again 
with  those  pioneers  aboard  the 
Brooklyn  as  they  journeyed  17,- 
000  miles  through  seven  months  to 
make  a  cheaper  trip  west  by  water. 


Dr.  Adam  S.  Bennion 

'^JPHE  author  of   this  article,   Dr. 

-*■  Adam  S.  Bennion,  needs  no 
introduction  to  the  readers  of  this 
magazine.  As  Superintendent  of 
the  L.  D.  S.  Church  School  System 
and  as  an  active  worker  in  the 
Church,  he  has  visited  practically 
efery  part  of  the  inter-mountain 
territory.  Known  everywhere  for 
his  charming  discourse  from  the 
rostrum  or  pulpit,  and  for  his 
friendly  approach  to  any  subject  in 
which  he  is  interested,  he  has  be- 
come one  of  the  best  known  and 
most  loved  speakers  and  writers  of 
the  inter-mountain  region.  Al- 
though Dr.  Bennion  is  no  longer 
connected  with  the  schools  he  is  a 
natural  teacher  and  will  continue  to 
teach  by  lecture,  sermon,  and  es- 
say, for  undoubtedly  teaching  is 
his  "first   love." 


Let  him  read  the  hazards  of  that 
trip  and  couple  them  with  the  su- 
perb faith  of  those  pioneers  des- 
tined to  land  finally  in  San  Fran- 
cisco Bay.  There  need  be  no  dead- 
ly repetition  in  the  chronicle  of  the 
Saints.  Creative  imagination  is 
heightened  more  in  the  realities  of 
that  modern  exodus  than  in  the 
pages  of  the  most  vivid  fiction. 
"Come,  Come  Ye  Saints"  would 
make  any  religious  body  proud  of 
its  forebears. 

6.  The  Rhythmic  Warmth  of 
Music.  The  man  who  has  never 
joined  whole-heartedly  jinto  the 
singing  of  a  rousing  anthem  or 
who  has  not  partaken  of  the  quiet 
charm     of   a   sacred     hymn — that 


April 

By  Donald  A.  Fraser 

TTTHEN  April  sings  her  plaintive  song, 
'  ^  And    drops   her   tears   along    the 

way, 
I  know  the  time  will  not  be  long 
Before  I  hear  the  laugh  of  May! 

For  April  sighs,  she  knows  not  why ; 

She  sheds  her  tears  in  gentle  pain ; 
She  knows  her  sorrows  are  gone  by : 

She  hears  Hope  whisper  her  again: 

And  yet  the  surge  within  her  breast, 
Beats  moodily  upon  her  heart; 

Her  pulses  throb  in  wild  unrest. 

And  tears  in  gushing  fountains  start! 

New  Joy  is  ever  quick  to  thrill. 
Yet  sister  is  to  poignant  Grief, 

And  tears  for  each  the  measure  fill: 
To  each  they  bring  a  sweet  relief. 

But  though  her  tears  are  quick  to  shower, 
Still,   Joy   dispels   them   oftenwhiles, 

For  when  she  sees  a  wayside  flower, 
Her  misty  eyes  break  into  smiles! 


man  has  never  fully  caught  the 
power  of  religious  feeling.  Music 
is  the  great  accompaniment  to  life 
and  sacred  music  is  the  refiner  of 
the  soul.  Listened  to  or  partici- 
pated in,  music  does  something  for 
men  w^hich  no  other  agency  can 
do.  Thought  turned  loose  upon 
a  wonderful  melody  or  interwoven 
with  sacred  harmonies  is  led  to 
some  of  its  finest  heights.  It  is  in- 
conceivable that  man  could  listen 
understandingly  to  our  noblest 
hymns  and  not  be  moved.  The 
appreciation  of  worthy  music  is 
always  a  creative  experience.  Per- 
haps the  fault  is  ours  in  not  open- 
ing thei  souls  of  youth  to  such  an 
appreciation. 

7.  The  Sustaining  Power  of 
Faith.  To  every  man  comes  crises. 
Failure,  disappointment,  loss,  sor- 
row, death — ^all  stalk  the  land — 
eager  to  call  even  though  unbid- 
den. In  the  darkened  hour  of  mis- 
fortunes it  is  jwonderful  to  have 
one  refuge  of  never-failing  com- 
fort. One  source  of  help — kind- 
ly, wise,  all  powerful.  A  Father 
who  always  will  extend  the  help- 
ing hand.  Every  man  in  his 
weakness  prays  to  be  sustained.  It 
is  a  wonderful  thing  so  to  estab- 
lish communion  with  God  that  in 
the  hour  of  need  access  to  Him  be- 
comes as  easy  ,as  it  is  natural. 
Making  Him  the  Rock  of  our  Sal- 
vation is  a  creative  experience  of 
the  first  magnitude.  Nothing  of- 
fers a  safer  anchor  to  youth.  In 
Him  lies  our  surest  hope. 

8.  The  Assurance  of  Eternal 
Life.  When  Robert  S.  Ingersoll 
wrote: 

"The  sweetest  flowers  of  life 
grow  on  the  edge  of  the  grave"  he 
projected  the  creative  force  of  his 
mind  past  the  curtains  of  mortal- 
ity. Every  man  must  upon  occa- 
sion take  that  long  look.  Only 
religion  gives  an  assurance  of  con- 
tinued existence.  The  love  of  life 
finds  its  fondest  contemplation  in 
the  thought  of  eternal  being. 
Shakespeare's  memorable 

"To  Be— or  Not  To  Be" 
echoes  still  in  the  theatre  of  the 
human  soul.  Every  man  ponders 
that  query — and  the  one  hopeful 
reply  is  the  answer  of  religion. 
Eternal  life  is  its  promise — and  in 
that  promise  lies  the  richest  cre- 
ative thought  which  crowds  across 
the  pages  of  our  contemplation. 

If  Life  is  the  warp,  then  religion 
is  the  woof  of  the  Universe — a  cre- 
ative reality  stamped  into  the  pat- 
tern of  our  being. 


326 


orever 

By  TRUE 

BANHEARDT 
HARMSEN 


NCLE  J  I  M," 
Louise  Stone  looked  hopefully  at 
the  Bishop  as  they  walked  home 
together  one  Saturday  afternoon. 
She  held  his  hand  as  she  had  done 
from  earliest  childhood.  "We  have 
never  asked  a  favor  of  the  Ward, 
not  even  since  dad  died." 

"I  know,"  Jim  Taylor,  tall  and 
portly,  smiled  and  squeezed  her 
hand.  "Your  mother  is  the  best 
rustler  of  all  my  sisters.  She's  al- 
ways found  a  way  out.  You're 
just  like  her  under  the  surface,  but 
you  do  take  after  your  father  on 
the  outside." 

"You  mean  mc  showing  off,  be- 


ing what  you  old  fogies  call  mod- 
ernr 

"Now,  now,  Louise,  don't  let's 
quarrel  about  that  again.  You 
were  speaking  of  a  favor?" 

Louise  drew  a  sharp  breath,  and 
lifted  her  blue  eyes  trustfully  to  her 
uncle's  face.  She  was  pretty  in  a 
modern  way. 

"John  Alder  has  got  to  come 
home." 

"That's  the  first  Lve  heard  of 
it."  Bishop  Taylor  stopped  and 
looked  searchingly  at  Louise.     "He 


"John  Alder  has  got  to  come  home.^' 

has  recently  been  appointed  Pres- 
ident of  the  Rotterdam  District." 

"Yes,  I  know.  But  I  was  just 
talking  to  Mrs.  Alder,"  Louise  ex- 
plained, "and  she  said  that  they 
had  been  sending  thirty  dollars  a 
month  to  John.  Mr.  Alder  got  a 
cut  in  wages,  and  fifteen  dollars  is 
all  they  can  scrape  up  to  send  him. 
Can't  the  Ward  help  with  the  rest 
of  it?  Or  couldn't  you — you  own 
a  whole  bank?     I — I  don't  want 


0rj\eu 


ever 


Louise  Stone  was  a  modern  Mormon  girl  with  a  fiance  on  a  mission. 
Her  uncle  was  the  Bishop  and,  naturally,  she  went  to  htm  for  advice  and — got 
it.  This  installment  is  the  prologue  to  a  story  which  will  appear  in  several 
installments  in  the  Improvement  Era.  It  was  written  by  Captain  True  B. 
Harmsen,  of  Arizona,  who  was  himself  a  missionary  at  one  time.  Captain 
Harmsen  knows  his  missionaries  and  also  the  true-blue  but  independent  Mor- 
mon girl,  as  well  as  the  many  difficulties  which  arise  before  a  young  man  and 
his  fiancee  who  have  been  separated  for  long  years,  the  one  devoting  himself 
entirely  to  work  for  the  Church,  the  other  attempting  bravety  to  fit  into  the 
home  society  until  he  returns. 


John  to  come  home  before — well, 
before  his  time  is  up.  I — I  wear 
his  ring — haven't  had  a  date  since 
he  went  away.  Uncle  Jim,  you 
call  me  frivolous,  and  modern,  but 
you  know  darn  well  I'm  a  true- 
blue  Mormon,  and  John  has  be- 
come a  wonderful  man  since  going 
on  his  mission.  He's  an  example 
to  other  missionaries.  He's  Dis- 
trict President!" 

"The  Ward  is  helping  so  many 
during  these  hard  times,  that  it  is 
impossible  to  help  John,"  her 
uncle  looked  away  from  her  as  he 
spoke.  "As  for  me  helping  him, 
that  is  out  of  the  question.  You 
are  a  true-blue  Mormon,  why 
don't  you  dig  up  the  money? 
After  all,  you're  practically  mar- 
ried." 

"I  would,"  Louise's  lip  trem- 
bled, "but  I  got  a  fifteen  dollar  a 
month  cut  today.  I  just  won't 
have  a  penny  to  give  to  anybody." 

"You  just  said  you  were  a  true- 
blue  Mormon,  honey;  where  is 
your  faith?  The  Lord  will  pro- 
vide!" 

Louise  looked  down,  and  traced 
the  line  in  the  sidewalk  with  the 
toe  of  a.  dainty  shoe.  She  did  not 
look  up  as  she  murmured  goodbye, 
and  turned  to  leave. 

Bishop  Taylor  looked  after  her, 
a  puzzled  look  in  his  soft  brown 
eyes.  "Now,  I  wonder  if  that  was 
the  right  thing  to  do  after  all?" 
He  shook  his  head,  and  added: 
"Fll  have  to  see  her  mother  and 
give  her  whatever  amount  Louise 
sends  to  John — if  she  sends  any." 

Sunday  evening  af- 
ter church.  Bishop  Taylor  called 
Louise  to  one  side.  "What  did 
vou   do   about   John   Alder?"    he 


asked.  "Did  you  consult  your 
mother?     What  did  she  advise?" 

A  determined  gleam  appeared  in 
Louise's  blue  eyes.  "I  didn't  say 
anything  to  mother  about  it.  Mrs. 
Alder  said  John  could  get  along  on 
twenty-five  dollars  a  month,  so  I 
gave  her  a  ten  spot.  Fm  going  to 
do  so  every  month  until  he  is  re- 
leased." 

"Where  are  you  getting  the 
money?" 

"If  I  only  knew!"  Louise  an- 
swered, and  it  sounded  like  part 
of  a  prayer.  "It  costs  me  five  dol- 
lars a  month  for  silk  stockings,  so 
I  know  where  half  of  it  is  coming 
from.  But  I  sure  don't  know 
where  the  other  five  is  coming 
from!" 

"So  that's  why  you  are  going 
without     stockings?"     her     uncle 


327 

grinned.      "Atta  girl.     The  Lord 
will  provide!" 

"Yeah?  Well  He  won't  pro- 
vide any  silk  stockings  for  the  little 
girl,  but  He  will  stick  a  five  spot 
someplace  where  I  can  find  it.  Good 
night." 

Bishop  Taylor  nodded  his  head 
and  grinned.  "Now,  ain't  that 
sompin'?"  he  asked. 

iHE  fifteenth  of  the 
month,  Biishop  Taylor  met  Louise 
at  the  Blue  Moon  Cafe  for  lunch 
as  she  had  breathlessly  requested 
over  the  telephone.  She  was  all 
smiles  as  she  sat  down  beside  him. 
She  plopped  her  purse  noisily 
down  upon  the  little  table,  then 
jumped  up,  kissed  the  bald  spot  on 
his  head,  and  threw  her  arms 
around  him. 

"Hey!  Wait  a  minute!"  he 
protested,  unfastening  her  arms 
from  around  his  neck. 

"Can't  wait!"  Louise  laughed, 
then  startdd  crying,  and  buried 
her  face  in  her  arms  on  the  table. 

"Now,  now,  honey,"  her  uncle 
slipped  an  arm  around  her.  "Don't 
cry  over  that.  I  just  didn't  want 
you  to  carry  on  so  here  where 
everybody  can  see  you.  You  know 
I  wouldn't  do  anything  to  hurt 
your  feelings.  No!  Not  for  the 
whole  world!  Why,  you're  my 
favorite  niece." 

"It  isn't  that,"  Louise  managed 
between  sobs.     "It's  this!" 

She  opened  her  purse  and  ex- 
tracted a  long  green  paper  and 
handed  it  to  her  uncle. 

"It's  a  pay  check,"  he  said, 
somewhat  puzzled. 

"Sure!"  Louise  gasped. 

"It's  for  thirty-scven-fifty-^- 
that's  only  seventy-five  per  month, 
thought  you  got  eighty-five?" 

"I  did,  silly,"  Louise  was  almost 
fierce  in  her  explanation.  "But  I 
got  a  fifteen  dollar  cut  in  salary — • 


see 


I" 


"But  this  is  only  ,a  ten  dollar 
cut,"  her  uncle  protested. 

"Again  you're  a  silly.  Uncle 
Jim,"  Louise  laughed  through  her 
tears.  "The  boss  said  I  would  not 
get  less  than  seventy-five,  too. 
Don't  you  realize  what  that  is? 
It's  that  extra  five.  I  knew  the 
Lord  would  put  it  somewhere  so 
I  could  find  it!" 

In  the  next  installment  John 
Alder  comes  home,  and  John  has 
acquired  many  ideas  in  Holland. 
How  does  Elder  John  accept 
Louise's  sacrifice i* 


328 


"Bear  T)ance 

By  KARL  E.  YOUNG 


Go  with  Professor  Karl  E.  Young y  a 
lover  of  tlie  American  Indian ^  and  vieiv 
with  him  the  Spring  Festival  of  the  Utes. 


Ute  Mother  and  Papoose  at  the 
''Bear  Dance" 


EVER  since  the  ice  went  out 
on     the     Green     River     in 

northern  Utah  the  Ute  In- 
dians had  been  talking  Bear  Dance. 
All  the  first  week,  during  a  spell 
of  intoxicating  spring  weather, 
they  argued  about  when  it  should 
start.  But  finally  the  good  weather 
broke;  then  they  came  to  a  con- 
clusion. For  a  week  thereafter 
they  kept  coming  in  by  twos  and 
threes  ahorseback,  or  by  family 
lots  in  spring  wagons,  with  squaws 
and  papooses  piled  on  bedding  and 
hay  behind  the  drivers'  seats.  When 
enough  men  had  assembled  to  cut 
willows  and  build  the  dance  corral, 
they  got  at  it. 

As  soon  as  I  heard  that  the  dance 
was  definitely  on  I  set  out  for  the 
Reservation  and  penetrated  as  far 
as  the  Uintah  River.  There  the 
sharp  wheels  of  Indian  wagons  had 
cut  such  deep  ruts  into  the  soft  dirt 
road  that  I  had  to  abandon  my  car 
and  prcKeed  the  remaining  ten  miles 
afoot. 

After  an  hour's  trudging  I  heard 
the  beat  of  hoofs  behind  me  and 
turned  to  see  a  young  Indian  burst 
out  of  a  side-path  among  the  wil- 
lows and  overtake  me  at  an  easy 
lope.  He  wore  an  absurd  red 
stocking-cap  and  looked  anything 
but  a  "noble  red  man."     However, 


Photo    hy   Karl   E.    Young 


he  was 
friendly  : 
"Where  you 
goin',  Bear 
Dance?"  he 
grinned  a  t 
me.  I  nod- 
ded. 

"Goin'  to 
get  you  a  new 
woman?"  I 
told  him  that 
I  hadn't  re- 
alized the* 
possibilities 
in  that  direc- 
tion. 

"Oh,  yeah, 
yeah,  lots  pretty  school  girls;  nice 
clean  dresses,  nice  clean  ribbons, 
nice  pretty  shawls."  His  face  be- 
came meditative. 

T  WAS  pondering  these  allure- 
ments when,  off  to  the  left, 
someone  hailed  us.  The  call  was 
more  like  the  whistle  of  a  quail 
than  a  hjiman  cry,  but  glancing  off 
in  that  direction  we  caught  the 
gleam  of  white  tarpaulin,  and  saw 
a  patch  of  red  shawl  moving  among 
the  willow  clumps.  An  Indian 
family  was  camped  there.  Nearby 
an  old  man  was  hooking  a  pair  of 
skinny  ponies  to  a  buckboard  and 
a  squaw  was  lifting  a  child  up  into 
the  vehicle.  I  asked  my  companion 
if  he  knew  them.  "I  don' know," 
he  answer- 
ed evasively, 
as  a  Ute  al- 
ways does 
when  you 
question 
him    direct- 

ly. 

Presently 
we  heard  the 
rattle  of  a 
rig  behind 
us.  Friend 
Stocking 
Cap    sniffed 


an  opportunity.  "Ask  them  to 
give  you  ride,"  he  suggested  with 
a  sly  grin.  It  struck  me  that  to  do 
so  would  be  no  small  gratification 
to  Indian  self-esteem.  However,  I 
was  out  to  make  contacts,  not  to 
preserve  class  distinctions,  so  I 
agreed.  "All  right,  how  do  you 
say  it  in  Indian?"  He  shrugged 
his  shoulders  and  murmured  again 
the  vague  negative,  "I  don'  know." 
But  he  was  eager  to  have  me  get 
myself  obligated  to  his  race.  There- 
fore, presently,  without  any  urging 
on  my  part,  he  pronounced  the 
words — "Muen  caro." 

As  the  outfit  drew  alongside  and 
I  perceived  that  there  was  room  for 
me  I  cried  out,  "Muen  carol" 

"Muen  caro!"  the  old  driver 
shouted  back  at  me,  and  he  added 
something  else  which  I  should  well 
like  to  have  understood,  for  it  set 
them  all  laughing.  But  he  pulled 
up  his  team  and  I  climbed  into  the 
back  to  sit  on  the  bare  boards  of 
the  wagon-bed  with  a  young 
squaw  bearing  the  redundant  name 
of  Stella  Star. 

CTELLA  had  two  papooses.  One, 
-  of  about  eleven  months,  was 
slung  in  a  blanket  over  her  back; 
a  heavy  strap,  passed  under  the 
baby's  thighs  and  buckled  over  the 
squaw's  breast,  held   it  snugly  in 

The  "Bear  Dance"  in  Progress 

Photo    by   Karl   E.    Voinig 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


329 


place — where  it  slept.  The  other 
papoose,  a  child  of  about  two 
years,  sprawled  on  a  thin  scattering 
of  hay  and  rested  his  head  on  his 
mother's  knees.  Stella  was  friendly 
and  polite  and  talked  to  me  a  little, 
but  I  could  see  she  was  anxious  to 
hear  what  the  young  man  on  the 
bronco  could  tell  about  me  as  he 
shouted  across  the  wheel  to  the 
buck  and  squaw  in  front. 

I  succeeded  in  ingratiating  my- 
self with  mother  and  child  by  sacri- 
ficing a  five-cent  bag  of  candy  to 
the  little!  one.  And  thereby  hangs 
a  tale.  The  bag  of  candy  had  been 
put  up  for  me  along  with  several 
other  similar  bags  by  the  keeper 
of  the  general  store  at  Duchesne. 
He  had  warned  me  that  if  I  went 
to  the  Bear  Dance  the  squaws 
would  ask  me  to  dance  with  them 
and  I  should  have  to  pay  for  each 
dance  with  a  quarter.  However, 
I  was  advised  that  when  the  squaws 
sent  their  children  to  dance  with 
me  I  could  get  off  cheaper  by  giving 
them  each  a  five-cent  bag  of  candy. 
The  sack  of  candy  would  look  big- 
ger than  a  nickel — and  besides  one 
could  not  be  sure  how  much  the 
candy  had  cost. 

The  scent  of  willow  smoke  and 
the  rhythmic  drubbing  of  the  mor- 
aches  announced  to  us  that  we 
were  approaching  the  dancing 
grounds.  Our  buckboard  came  to 
a  halt  in  an  uneven  clearing  where 
there  were  several  shaggy  little 
teams  and  weather-beaten  wagons. 
As  1  stepped  down  to  the  ground, 
my  friend,  the  horseman  reined  his 
bronco  over  close  and  spoke  to  me 
confidentially,  "I  don'  know.  Meb- 
be  so  they'll  chase  us.  You  bein' 
white  man,  they  might  make  you 
pay."  He  looked  at  me  sympa- 
thetically. 

I  began  to  assure  him  that  I 
should  not  mind  paying  to  see  the 
Bear  Dance,  but  suddenly,  he 
sighted  someone  with  whom  he 
had  a  great  desire  to  speak,  and, 
waving  me  a  hasty  farewell,  he 
trotted  off,  winding  his  way 
among  the  willow  clumps.  I 
caught  a  glimpse  of  him  ja  moment 
later  in  conversation  with  a  tall 
Indian  wearing  an  enormously 
high-brimmed  black  hat  set  off 
with  a  tuft  of  yellow  eagle  feathers. 

npHEN,  in  an  open  space  ahead,  I 
beheld  the  dance  gathering.  A 
large  willow  enclosure  had  been 
erected  on  a  piece  of  ground  rising 
out  of  the  river  bottoms.  On  a 
tall  pole  at  one  end  of  the  enclosure 


fluttered  a  white  fiour  sack  with  a 
crude  drawing  of  a  bear  standing 
upright  in  the  middle  of  it.  Out- 
side of  the  willow  wall  was  a  fringe 
of  Indian  ponies,  and  on  every 
pony  an  Indian  youth  leaning  for- 
ward in  the  saddle  to  see  what  was 
going  on  inside  the  ring.  From 
within  came  the  hollow  zooming 
of  the  moraches  and  the  quavering 
music  of  Indian  song. 

I  stepped  up  to  peer  between  the 
branches  of  the  \yillow  wall.  There 
were  two  lines  of  dancers  facing 
each  other  in  the  middle  of  the 
arena,  and  dancing  at  a  rather  fast 
pace  to  the  accompaniment  of  a 
group  of  musicians  who  were 
working  vigorously  over  a  wooden 
object  shaped  like  a  horse-trough. 
Here  and  there  near  the  sides  of 
the  enclosure  were  several  fires 
around  which  groups  of  ancient 
squaws  and  playing  infants  were 
gathered.  An  occasional  papoose- 
board  leaned  against  the  barrier 
with  a  baby  laced  up  in  it  fast 
asleep  while  the  mother  danced. 
One  old  squaw  was  warming  a 
baby  by  rocking  the  cradle  board 
before  the  fire  and  turning  it  from 
time  to  time.  All  of  the  women 
had  bright,  long-fringed  shawls 
over  their  shoulders,  and  the  old 
and  very  young  wore  handsome 
lemon-colored  buckskin  moccasins 
ornamented  with  beads.  The  men 
were  without  decoration  except  for 
heavily-beaded  gauntlet  gloves  and 
bpad  bar-bands.  Most  of  tbp  vonriCT 
fellows  wore  high-heeled  cowboy 
boots  with  big  jingling  spurs 
which  they  did  not  remove  when 
they  danced. 

I  felt  a  hand   on  my  shoulder 


'v»'4-l>i        -vtj   ■r         ■■ 


The  Picture  of  the  Bear 


and  turned  around.  A  tall  Indian 
in  an  enormously  high-brimmed 
black  hat,  set  off  with  a  tuft  of 
yellow  eagle  plumes  confronted  me. 
"You  got  ticket?"  he  demanded. 

I  shook  my  head  and  looked 
about  for  my  red-capped  horseman 
who  had  worried  for  fear  I  might 
have  to  buy  one.  He  was  riding 
very  unconcernedly  round  to  the 
other  side  of  the  enclosure,  having 
made  sure  that  old  "Yellow  Feath- 
er" would  not  fail  to  collect  from 
me. 

I  paid  twenty-five  cents  for  a 
little  piece  of  green  wrapping  paper. 
But  it  was  no  sooner  in  my  hand 
than  an  aged  buck  approached  me 
and  asked  for  it,  saying,  "Me  take 
tickets."  I  did  not  relinquish  it 
without  misgivings,  for  how 
should  other  ticket- sellers  know  I 
had  paid?  I  asked  the  old  fellow 
his  name,  intending  to  refer  to  it 
in  the  event  of  an  argument  with 
subsequent  ticket-takers.  I  might 
have  anticipated  his  answer.  It 
was  the  inevitable  "I  don'  know." 

When  I  turned  to  the  wall  again 
the  music  had  stopped.  The 
dancers  were  going  back  to  the 
fires,  the  girls  and  squaws  to  the 
far  side  of  the  enclosure,  and  the 
men  to  the  fires  near  the  musicians. 
I  now  had  an  opportunity  to  study 
faces  and  dress,  so  I  entered  the 
enclosure  and  approached  a  fire 
around  which  Stella  Star  and  her 
family  were  sitting. 

#~iN  the  opposite  side  of  the  dance 
grounds  a  severe-looking  fel- 
low, with  a  purple  silk  handker- 
chief knotted  loosely  over  his  nose 
and  hanging  down  over  the  lower 
part  of  his  face,  was  pointing  at 
me  and,  in  evident  bad  temper, 
addressing  a  group  of  men  about 
him.  Presently,  a  middle-aged 
fellow  in  ,3  ragged  blue  overcoat 
and  much-bedraggled  black  hat 
crossed  over  to  me  and  pointed  at 
a  small  leather  case  in  which  I  kept 
a  Leica  camera  strapped  to  my  belt. 
"No  make  'um  pictures,"  he  said, 
and  repeated  it  emphatically, 
"They  don'  wan'  you  to  make  pic- 
tures." 

Had  "they"  all  been  of  a  com- 
plexion with  this  fellow  I  should 
not  have  considered  this  much  of 
a  denial,  for  he  was  the  ugliest 
Indian  I  have  ever  seen.  His  broad, 
dull  face  was  deeply  scarred  with 
pock  marks,  and  his  thick  nose  and 
heavy  lips  gave  him  a  negroid  ap- 
pearance to  which  the  muddy  color 
of  his  skin  gave  emphasis.  He 
certainly  did  not  look  the  image  of 


330 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


authority,  and  consequently  I  was 
surprised  to  see  him  leave  me  and 
proceed  directly  to  the  middle  of 
the  corral  where  he  began  to  har- 
angue the  girls  ,and  women  for 
failing  to  answer  the  summons  of 
the  orchestra  to  choose  partners  for 
the  next  dance. 

Immediately  the  squaws  began 
to  string  across  the  dance  grounds. 
They  made  straight  for  the  gentle- 
men of  their  choice,  each  one  indi- 
cating her  man  by  a  touch  on  the 
shoulder  or  by  waving  her  shawl 
directly  in  his  face.  Every  time  an 
especially  attractive  or  peculiarly 
unattractive  squaw  made  her  selec- 
tion it  was  greeted  by  jests  and 
laughter  from  the  rest  of  the  bucks. 
Then  the  women  crossed  back  to 
their  own  fires  and  waited  for  the 
orchestral  prelude  to  finish. 

The  "orchesitra"  was  composed 
of  fourteen  men  who  sat,  close- 
packed  together,  around  a  deep 
wooden  trough  made  of  heavy 
planks  and  covered  with  a  broad 
sheet  of  zinc.  Each  man  had  in  his 
left  hand  a  hardwood  stick  about 
eighteen  inches  long  and  two  inches 
thick,  down  one  side  of  which  a 
series  of  deep  notches  had  been  cut. 
In  the  other  hand  was  a  rounded 
bone  about  eight  inches  long. 
Music  was  derived  from  this  in- 
strument, which  is  called  the  mor- 
ache,  by  placing  one  end  of  the 
notched  stick  on  the  zinc  sounding- 
board  , and  rubbing  the  bone  over 
the  notches  in  rhythmic  strokes. 
In  the  old  days  the  Indians  used  to 
make  resonators  by  digging  a  deep 
pit  in  the  ground  and  pegging  a 
skin  down  very  tightly  across  it. 
This  "cave"  or  hollow  place  be- 
neath the  resonator  was  said  "to 
be  connected  with  the  bear,"  and 
the  deep,  rasping  noise  which  issued 
from  the  "cave"  was  said  "to  imi- 
tate the  sound  a  bear  makes." 

XXTHEN  all  were  ready  a  sharp 
cry  was  given,  and  they  be- 
gan to  dance,  i.  e.,  the  rows  surged 
together,  and  then  they  swung 
back.  Forward  and  back.  Two 
long  steps  forward,  and  three  short 
steps  back.  It  was  a  monotonous, 
though  not  ungraceful  movement 
to  watch.  The  dancers  kept  time 
and  they  held  their  lines,  for  woe 
unto  him  who  lost  a  step!  He  was 
immediately  detected  by  the  master 
of  the  dance,  our  ugly  man,  who 
walked  up  and  down  behind  the 
lines  with  a  long,  tough  willow 
which  he  laid  sharply  across  the 
calves  of  any  offending  member. 
Each  dance  lasted  from  ten  to 


fifteen  minutes,  too  long  for  some 
of  the  older  squaws  who  wobbled 
visibly  before  the  final  "y-hah" 
of  the  singers  announced  that  the 
number  was  ended.  But  there  was 
no  variation.  Every  dance  was  like 
the  one  which  had  preceded  it  and 
the  one  which  followed. 

During  the  intermissions  I 
moved  about  from  fire  to  fire,  brib- 
ing my  way  among  the  women  and 
children  with  bags  of  candy  in  an 
attempt  to  find  an  informant.  The 
Utes  are  a  secretive  lot  as  early 
writers  testify  (witness  Humphre- 
ville) ,  but  I  learned  that  the  for- 
midable fellow  with  the  purple 
handkerchief  was  a  medicine-man, 
and  that  like  Kongra-Tonga,  in 
"The  Oregon  Trail,"  he  had  re- 
ceived directions  in  a  dream,  upon 
the  strict  observance  of  which  his 
success  in  life  depended.  He  had 
been  warned  by  his  "medicine" 
never  to  expose  his  mouth  and  chin 
to  the  sight  of  a  human  being. 
This  restriction  he  had  carefully 
observed  for  many  years,  and  his 
behavior  had  been  accepted  by  the 
Indians  as  being  perfectly  natural. 
But  the  white  men  who  lived  on 
the  Reservation  had,  in  their  ignor- 
ance, attempted  to  give  a  rational 
explanation.  They  said  that  Yel- 
low Crane  was  afflicted  with  facial 
paralysis,  and  that  he  muffled  his 
face  to  keep  the  world  from  seeing 
his  deformity! 


Deer  in  an  open  park  in  the 
National  Forest 


As  to  the  significance  and  origin 
of  the  Bear  Dance  I  was  unable  to 
find  out  a  ithing  by  blunt  ques- 
tioning. The;  women  would  say 
"Ask  the  mens,"  and  the  men 
would  say  "I  don'  know."  Evi- 
dently I  must  change  my  tactics.  I 
surmised  that  the  artist  who  had 
painted  the  bear  on  the  flour  sack 
would  know  something  of  the  his- 
tory of  the  dance. 

He  was  a  young  fellow,  not 
overly  superstitious,  and,  fortu- 
nately, susceptible  to  praise.  I  ad- 
mired his  bear,  engaging  him  to 
paint  me  one  for  two'  dollars,  and 
pumped  him  on  the  subject  of  the 
dance.  His  information  was  not 
copious.  I  had  to  supplement  it 
with  what  I  could  get  from  farmers 
and  government  agents  after  the 
dance  had  broken  up.  It  seems 
that  the  festival,  which  is  given 
annually  to  celebrate  the  advent  of 
the  spring,  originated  in  an  ex- 
perience which  an  old  warrior  had 
with  a  bear  one  day  in  the  woods. 

npHE  bear  had  been  wakened 
from  Ms  hibernation  by  a  peal 
of  thunder,  and  upon  emerging 
from  his  winter  den,  he  had  shown 
his  joy  at  the  coming  of  spring  by 
humming  a  little  song  and  per- 
forming a  simple  dance  of  greeting 
to  a  tree.  The  Indian  learned  the 
bear's  song  and  watched  his  dance 
until  he  could  repeat  it.  Then  he 
taught  both  to  the  people  of  his 
tribe.  The  people  liked  them  but 
did  not  know  why  the  bear  had 
addressed  his  attentions  to  a  tree. 
Some  claimed  that  he  had  danced 
to  a  cedar- tree  which  is  symbolic  of 
long  life.  Others  thought  he  sang 
merely  as  a  recognition  of  flowing 
sap  and  swelling  buds,  and  that 
his  dance  only  meant  that  he  was 
feeling  good. 

In  any  event  the  Indians  im- 
proved on  the  bear's  celebrations 
and  made  a  purely  social  occasion 
out  of  it,  such  as  it  is  today.  All 
the  people  come  to  the  dance  which 
lasts  five  days  and  ends  up  with  a 
big  feast.  On  the  last  day  a  man 
and  woman  dress  up  like  bears  and 
chase  each  other  about  the  en- 
closure. They  pretend  to  get  aw- 
fully mad  and  scratch  people  up  if 
anyone  -chances  to  poke  fun  at 
them.  This  is  only  an  attempt  to 
add  color.  But  everyone  enjoys  it 
hugely,  and  eats  excessively  and 
goes  home  reluctantly  to  wait  until 
June  brings  hot  weather  and  the 
Sun  Dance  and  another  excuse  to 
leave  home  and  live  like  their  old 
nomadic  forefathers  once  again. 


331 


'Ta-Mati-Na-Cup" — "The   Bear  Dance" 


Photo  Courtesy  Prof.  Win.  F.  Hanson,  B.  Y.  U. 


ance 


By  OLIVE  F.  WOOLLEY  BURT 

(As  seen  by  an  Indian  girl  who  has  been  reared  among  white  people) 


npHIS  is  the  Bear  Dance,  the  dance  of  the  spring  time. 

The  love  dance  delighting  my  forefathers  bold. 
I  stand  aloof,  a  curious  stranger, 

For  these  crude  displays  leave  me  unmoved  and  cold. 
I  know  from  a  vague  but  persistent  memory 

What  measure  of  favor  each  symbol  wins; 
Yet  I  am  a  stranger,  the  adopted  of  white  men; 

I  smile  as  the  dance  begins. 


Forward  and  back  with  rhythmic  beat, 
The  men  are  advancing;  the  women  retreat. 

These  arc  my  people.     How  far  I  have  traveled! 

I'm  no  longer  a  squaw.     I  have  no  desire 
To  dress  in  their  costumes,  to  lie  in  a  wigwam, 

To  eat  my  meals  squatting  beside  their  low  fire. 
Those  Braves  are  just  Indians;  they  do  not  attract  me; 

There's  but  one  who  is  handsome,  but  one  I  might  choose. 
I  see  him  out  yonder.    Ah,  he  is  not  dancing. 

Has  nobody  asked  him,  or  did  he  refuse? 

Forward  and  back.     The  tom-toms  beat. 
The  men  are  advancing; — the  women  retreat. 

His  skin  is  like  copper;  his  black  hair  is  braided; 

He  is  built  like  an  arrow,  straight,  slender  and  long; 
Beneath  the  dark  skin  his  muscles  move  swiftly; 

He  is  a  runner  and  beautifully  strong. 
Why  should  I  sit  dreaming  when  I  might  be  dancing. 

Retreating  before  him?     Oh,  rapturous  play! 
He  would  advance,  never  to  meet  me; 

Forward  and  backward  with  sensuous  sway. 

Forward  and  back;  the  motions  repeat. 

The  men  are  advancing; — the  women  retreat. 


Across  the  green  meadow,  O  heart,  I  am  going. 

Slowly,  sedately,  that  he  may  not  know 
How  much  of  pain  and  how  much  of  rapture, 

What  exquisite  torture  it  costs  me  to  go. 
I  nod.     With  a  grunt  his  answer  is  given. 

I  wait,  while  my  pulses  keep  time  with  the  drums. 
I  saw  the  light  that  he  hid  'neath  his  lashes; 

I  saw  his  eyes — But  how  slowly  he  comes! 

Forward  and  back.     Go,  happy  feet! 

The  men  are  advancing; — the  women  retreat. 

I  have  watched  the  Pale  Faces.     The  men  asked  the  women. 

Approaching  them  boldly,  nor  caring  who  saw. 
But  he  whom  I've  chosen  would  die  ere  he  sought  me 

For  he  is  a  Brave  and  I  am  a  squaw. 
The  Americans  dance  with  their  arms  'round  each  other. 

Heart  upon  heart,  while  strange  music  rings; 
Ah,  it  would  kill  me  before  these,  my  people; 

But  tonight,  'neath  the  stars, — ah,  how  my  heart  sings! 

Forward  and  back.     How  my  pulses  beat! 
The  men  are  advancing; — the  women  retreat. 

Tonight  when  the  dancers  have  awakened  a  frenzy. 

When  the  pantomime  courtship  has  fanned  their  desire. 
When  the  beat  of  the  dance  and  the  urge  of  the  music. 

Have  filled  their  wild  veins  with  unconquerable  fire; 
When  the  grasses  are  warm  with  the  sweet  breath  of  spring 
time. 

When  the  moon  smiles  down  softly  and  the  breeze  sings 
its  song, 
When  the  still  night  enfolds  me  and  shuts  me  from  others. 

He  will  come!     He  will  come!     Ah,  the  day  is  too  long! 

Forward  and  back.     May  our  love  be  complete. 
The  men  are  advancing:- — the  women  retreat. 


332 


In  this  article  you  are  given  a  close-uf 
portrait  of  His  Excellency^ 

Governor 

C.  Ben  Ross 

A  Qrusader 

By  LAMONT  JOHNSON 


"And  ninety  and  nine  are  with  dreams  content, 
But  the  hope  of  a  world  made  new 
Is  the  hundredth  man  who  is  grimly  bent 
On  making  the  dream  come  true." 

THAT    inspiring    little    stanza    from   the 
vers€  written  by  Ted  Olsen,  of  Wyo- 
ming, makes  an  appropriate  start  for  a 
real-life  subject. 

Governor  C.  Ben  Ross  occupies  the  Idaho  state 
capitol  at  Boise  very  largely  because  in  his  early 
youth  he  resolved  that  he  would  some  day  be 
there,  and  he  never  lost  that  ambition.  That 
is  why  he  is  such  an  interesting  personality.  His 
going  from  farm  boy  to  governor,  or  being  the 
first  native-born  Idahoan  to  reach  that  high 
office,  is  interesting  and  inspiring,  yet  many  a 
man  has  done  that  in  all  the  years  of  United 
States  history.  Some  have  attained  higher 
honors  from  the  same  foundation.  He  did  the 
rarer  and  bigger  thing  of  holding  fast  to  an  idea 
that  came  to  him  when  he  was  still  too  young 
to  realize  what  a  long  tough  road  he  had  to 
travel  before  he  could  achieve  it. 

Ben  Ross  was  only  13  when  he  decided  that  he 
would  like  to  be  the  governor.  As  he  plowed  on  the 
old  homestead  farm  near  Parma  he  thought  of  the 
state  capitol  and  of  himself  as  governor  there.  It  was 
a  typical  boyhood  dream,  but  the  difference  was  that 
most  boys  forget  it  or  get  over  it,  and  Ben  Ross  didn't. 

I  had  heard  him  tell  some  of  these  things  in  his 
speeches  over  the  state,  so  one  November  day  I  went 
up  to  Boise  to  ask  him  about  ,it.  The  election  was 
just  over  and  he  had  been  re-elected  with  the  biggest 
majority  any  Idaho  governor  ever  had. 

That  wtas  a  quiet  morning,  but  it  was  in  his  office 
at  the  capitol  building  that  I  talked  with  him.  He 
said  then  that  he  was  only  1 3  when  he  first  got  that 
idea  of  being  governor.  He  told  his  schoolmates  in 
Parma  about  it,  and  later,  when  he  rode  the  range  in 
eastern  Oregon  and  southern  Idaho,  he  told  his  fellow 
cowboys  that  they  ought  to  feel  proud  because  they 
were  riding  around  with  the  future  governor  of  Idaho. 
Maybe  they  laughed  at  him  then,  but  some  of  those 
ex-cowboys  remember  now  what  Ben  Ross  told  them. 

tJE  had  in  him  something  of  the  crusader  even  in 

those  days.     He  must  have  had,  or  he  would  not 

have  clung  to  that  idea  with  such  earnestness.     An- 


Governor  C.  Ben   Ross  of  Idaho 

other  ambition  he  had  was  to  own  the  farm  which 
his  pioneer  parents  had  homesteaded  in  1875.  His 
father,  J.  M.  Ross,  was  a  cattleman,  and  Ben  was 
a  cowboy  until  he  reached  18.  Then  he  went  to  a 
business  school  in  Portland  for  three  years,  because 
all  this  time  he  kept  that  notion  of  being  governor 
and  he  knew  he  needed  to  get  ready  for  it.  At  21  he 
started  farming  and  managed  the  old  homestead  for 
1  7  years,  living  there  on  it.  Not  until  he  moved  to 
Pocatello  in  1921  did  he  ever  live  in  a  town.  During 
those  years  he  took  an  active  part  in  cooperative  farm 
organizations,  and  from  1918  to  1923  was  secretary, 
then  president  of  the  Idaho  State  Farm  Bureau  which 
has  since  given  way  to  the  farm  granges. 

With  the  idea  of  training  sitill  in  mind  as  needed 
preparation  for  the  state  capital  job,  he  entered  politics 
in  1915  as  commissioner  of  Canyon  County  and  re- 
mained in  that  position  six  years.  So  intent  was  he 
in  wanting  to  make  good  in  whatever  job  he  had — 
and  to  be  governor — that  he  almost  made  the  court- 
house his  home.  He  has  told  many  a  time  how  he 
often  stayed  up  there  until  midnight,  studying  tax 
records,  valuations  and  assessments.  It  was  that  dili- 
gence which  gave  him  his  first  opportunity  to  demon- 
strate bis  genuine  honesty  of  purpose  in  governmental 


The  improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


333 


Idaho  State  Capitol,  Boise,  Idaho 


affairs.  There  were  certain  irregularities  involving 
tax  funds.  Other  officials  had  overlooked  them.  Ben 
Ross  did  not.  He  found  where  the  money  had  been 
misapplied  and  had  the  situation  corrected. 

Those  six  years  not  only  gave  him  a  valuable 
foundation  in  practical  economics  leading  toward  the 
governorship,  they  increased  his  respect  for  the  idea  of 
doing  service,  and  provided  just  the  precise  oppor- 
tunity that  was  needed  to  reveal  and  develop  the 
crusader  spirit  which  has  become  one  of  his  dominant 
characteristics.  He  found  a  wrong  and  corrected  it, 
and  he  has  kept  on  trying  to  correct  such  wrongs  as 
are  inflicted  by  the  few  over  the  many,  for  Governor 
Ross's  ideals  are  with  the  mass  of  people,  heart  and 
soul. 

"Everyone  must  have  an  ideal,"  he  said  that  day  in 
the  capitol  building.  "Young  people  cannot  drift 
and  expect  to  get  anywhere.  They  must  want  to  give 
service  and  be  willing  to  sacrifice  some  of  the  more 
alluring  things  in  order  to  realize  their  ambition. 
You've  got  to  forget  yourself.  As  soon  as  you  begin 
to  think  only  of  yourself  you  lower  your  ability.  It 
is  one  of  God's  laws.  Anybody  who  peacocks  around 
never  makes  much  of  a  success." 


DEFORE  that,  in  the  same  conversation,  he  had 
said:  "When  I  first  wanted  to  be  governor  I 
knew  I  had  to  prepare  myself.  There  is  no  mere 
'happenstance'  about  doing  worthwhile  things.  You've 
got  to  plan  for  it.  That's  why  I  went  to  business 
school,  and  that's  why  I  stayed  up  at  night  in  the 
courthouse  at  Caldwell.  I  studied  tax  records  at 
night  and  traveled  the  roads  by  day  to  see  how  things 
were  handled.  As  a  young  man  I  cut  out  cards  and 
dances  and  poolhalls.  I  couldn't  waste  time  on  those 
things  when  I  had  something  else  in  mind." 

"The  name  of  a  great  man  travels  ahead  of  him," 
a  sage  once  said,  and  so  the  people  of  Pocatello  did 
not  need  much  time  to  find  out  what  Ben  Ross  was 
like.  Just  two  years  after  moving  there  in  1921  he 
was  elected  m.ayor,  and  they  kept  on  re-electing  him 
to  that  position  until  he  again  moved  on  to  a  higher 
place.  In  1928,  for  the  first  time,  he  tried  to  land 
that  job  as  governor.  He  did  not  make  it,  but  in  1930 
he  tried  it  again,  and  that  time  he  achieved  the  goal 
he  had  been  aiming  at  all  through  the  years  since  he 
was  a  13-year  old  boy  plowing  on  a  farm  near 
Parma. 

"One  of  the  most  important  things  in  anyone's 


334 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


life,"   Governor  Ross  has  said  more  than  once,   "is 
that  he  must  want  to  give  service." 

He  wasted  no  time.  The  first  thing  was  the  legis- 
lature in  January,  1931.  When  that  was  over  he 
started  in  studying  state  business  and  visiting  over 
Idaho  to  find  out  things  to  be  done.  He  found  it 
rapidly.     It  was  another  case  of  misapplied  funds 


and  where  he  was  born,  that  at  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity he  bought  the  place.  He  still  calls  it  home 
and  returns  there  frequently  with  Mrs.  Ross  and  their 
daughter,  Helen. 

They  also  have  two  grown  sons,  Dewey  and  Earl. 
Mrs.  Ross  is  a  pioneer  in  her  own  right,  as  she  was 
born  in  Wyoming  while  her  parents  were  crossing  the 


As  these  funds  belonged  to  the  people  of  Idaho,  he  plains.     She  grew  up  in  Idaho,  was  educated  in  that 

went  about  finding  and  punishing  the  guilty  like  a  state,  taught  school  awhile,  then  married  Ben  Ross 

crusader.  and  has  worked  in  community  affairs  wherever  they 

There  is  a  powerful  earnestness  about  Governor  have  lived.     She  has  been  a  good  campaigner  too,  in 


Governor  C.  Ben  Ross,  right;  his  son, Detcey,  left,  as  cattle  ranchers 


Ross  when  he  is  cru- 
sading for  such  a 
cause.  He  literally 
forgets  himself  in 
the  fervor  of  his 
purpose.  As  though 
to  get  directly  into 
the  hearts  and  minds 
of  his  listeners,  he 
often  leaves  the 
platform  and  walks 
down  the  aisles 
where  he  can  talk 
more  persuasively  in 
the  midst  of  his 
audience. 

/^NCE,  in  a  large 
open  gathering, 
where  a  microphone 
and  loud  speaker 
were  necessary  to 
carry  his  words  even 
to  the  front  row 
listeners,  he  became 
so  enthralled  with 
his  subject  that,  of  a 
sudden,  he  aban- 
doned the  micro- 
phone and  went 
directly  to  the  front 
of  the  crowd,  orat- 
ing and  gesturing. 
The  instant  he  left 
the  microphone  his 
voice  became  inaud- 
ible, as  though  he 
had  been  shut  off  a 
radio.  The  audience 
laughed    and    some 

called  "speech,  speech,"  until  it  dawned  upon  him  that     he  was  still  there  because  the  string  of  lights  kept 
he  was  talking  to  thin  air.      He  lowered  his  arm,      lengthening  out  along  the  avenue  long  after  the  lamp- 
grinned  and  walked  back  to  the  "mike"  on  the  rear     lighter  had  disappeared  in  the  darkness. 
of  the  platform,  where  he  resumed  his  talk.  The  lives  of   some   people  are   like   that.    Harry 

There  arc  no  animosities  in  the  makeup  of  Gover-     Lauder   thought,    for   the   things   they   say   and   do 
nor  Ross.     In  the  heat  of  a  political  campaign  he  will     continue  to  lengthen  and  expand,  giving  light  and 
apologize  if  he  feels  forced  to  use  harsh  personalities     inspiration  even  though  they  are  not  with  us. 
or  criticisms  concerning  his  opponents.     He  is  fond  A  state  is  fortunate  to  have  a  leader  with  some- 

of  using  scriptural  references  to  drive  home  a  vital  thing  more  than  the  ability  to  supervise  the  economies 
point.  He  pays  high  and  earnest  tribute  to  those  who  of  government;  whose  idealism  and  personality 
pioneered  ^the  land,  because  his  parents  were  among  throws  out  an  influence  that  will  inspire  them  in  their 
them.     That  crusader  element  makes  him  fight  val-      own  yearning  hopes  and  ambitions,  and  whose  buoy- 


Home  of  Governor  Ross,  Parma,  Idaho 


helping  him  to  be- 
come (governor  and 
remain  governor. 

J^  EARING  him 
in  one  of  his 
fervent  moments, 
when  he  is  extolling 
the  fortitude  of  his 
pioneer  forebears,  or 
urging  upon  a  1 1 
youth  the  need  for 
idealism  and  loyalty 
towards  the  worth 
while  things  of  life, 
one  thinks  of  the 
lesson  Harry  Lauder 
gave  the  world.  On 
a  lonely  afternoon 
in  the  city  of  In- 
dianapolis, far  from 
his  beloved  Scot- 
land, the  famous 
singer  strolled  out 
into  a  park.  As  he 
sat  on  a  bench  in  the 
evening,  a  lamp- 
lighter started  light- 
ing the  globes  along 
the  street.  One  after 
another  he  reached 
the  posts  and  the 
lights  flicked  on.  As 
the  shadows  grew 
deeper  in  the  gath- 
ering dusk,  the 
lamplighter  moved 
on  until  he  could  no 
longer  be  seen.  But 
Harry  Lauder  knew 


iantly  for  what  he  fights  at  all.  The  strength  in  the 
things  of  nature  is  the  strength  of  people  to  him  be- 
cause his  own  career  is  rooted  in  the  rugged  and  honest 
environment  of  farm  life.  He  cannot  get  away  from 
it.    He  so  revered  the  homestead  his  parents  founded, 


ant  faith  and  high  determination  will  reflect  in  a 
beneficent  way  upon  the  institutions  of  which  he  is 
the  head. 

The  wish  of  that  13-year  old  lad  on  a  western 
Idaho  farm  back   in  pioneer    (Continued  on  page  360) 


335 


PREPARING  The  SOIL  For 

C  T  leavers 


K^        n 


By  J.  H.  OLSEN 

Thousands  of  residents  of  Utah  and  tourists  from  other  states 
have  enjoyed  the  beautiful  landscaping  at  the  Utah  State  Hospital 
in  Provo,  Last  summer  the  ^'Old  Wom^an  Who  Lived  in  a  Shoe"^^ 
was  made  of  flowers  and  other  m^aterials.  Mr.  John  Olsen^  florist 
at  the  hospital^  was  asked  how  he  succeeded  so  well  with  his  flowers. 
He  replied  with  this  article. 


This    bed   during    all 
growing  months  is  lovely 


START  a  garden  with  the  best 
possible  plant  material,  be- 
cause plants  will  never  attain 
perfection  of  form  or  flower  with- 
out this  preparation.  The  begin- 
ning of  a  successful  garden,  then, 
lies  in  getting  healthy  plants  and 
in  preparing  the  soil  to  receive 
them.  Purchase  good,  fresh,  seeds 
that  will  germinate  and  come  to 
flower;  by  so  doing  you  can  be 
pretty  well  assured  of  a  good 
healthy  start. 

The  success  or  failure  of  the 
garden  depends  upon  the  gardener 
himself.      He    must    see    that    his 


plants  have  these  four  things — 
nourishing  soil,  sun,  water,  and 
cultivation.  These  four  comprise 
the  necessary  factors  in  creating  a 
right  garden  environment.  From 
the  soil  comes  two  per  cent  of  the 
plant's  substance;  the  other  ninety- 
eight  are  drawn  from  moisture  and 
the  air.  To  furnish  that  other 
two  per  cent,  we  enrich  the  soil; 
in  order  to  furnish  the  remaining 
ninety-eight  per  cent  we  plant  our 
flowers  in  spots  where  they  will 
enjoy  the  light  and  warmth  of  the 
sun.  We  cultivate  the  soil  in  order 
to  let  in  air  and  then  we  must  water 


i  bed  of  tulips  in  front 
of  the  hospital 


the  garden.  All  of  these  make  up 
plant  life. 

There  are  more  plants  that  love 
the  sun  than  plants  that  prefer 
shade.  A  sunny  spot,  then,  is  the 
first  choice.  Avoid  planting  too 
close  to  trees,  as  they  not  only 
shade  the  garden,  but  draw  off  the 
nourishment  in  the  soil  through 
their  vast  root  systems.  A  sunny, 
south,  gentle  slope  is  the  ideal  spot 
because  of  the  drainage. 

The  second  desirable  feature  is 
to  locate  the  garden  in  order  that 
it  can  be  appreciated  from  the 
house;    lay   out  the   garden   from 


336 


The  hnprovetnent  Era  for  April,  1933 


the  points  of  vantage  in  the 
house — a  group  of  windows,  a 
door,  or  a  porch.  Such  a  garden  is 
located  at  a  distance  from  the  house 
and  may  be  reached  by  a  path  or 
across  a  stretch  of  lawn.  Founda- 
tion planting  is  designed  to  give  the 
house  a  pleasant  and  gradual  rela- 
tion to  its  immediate  site.  This  is 
usually  a  shrubbery  planting,  with 
occasional  pockets  of  perennials  and 
bulbs  to  give  seasonal  color. 

AX^HERE  your  lot  is  small  there 
^^  is  little  choice  in  locating  the 
garden.  Just  place  it  along  the 
property  line  to  frame  the  picture. 
On  a  larger  place,  with  varying 
levels  and  different  types  of  soil, 
the  kinds  of  gardens  you  can  make 
need  be  limited  only  by  your  purse 
and  your  interest  in  flower  grow- 
ing. 

Try  to  lay  out  your  gardens  so 
they  are  related  to  one  another.  So 
that  you  pass  easily  and  gradually 
from  one  part  to  another,  then 
their  beauty  is  concentrated  and 
that,  together  with  the  house, 
makes  a  beautiful  picture.  Picture 
making  should  be  your  guide 
throughout  your  work.  It  applies 
just  as  much  to  the  large  place  as 
to  the  garden  designed  for  a  small 
place. 

If    the   place    is    large,    make    a 


East  Center  Street,  Provo,  parked 
and  bedded  by  Mr.  Olsen.  One  of  the 
most   beautiful   avenues  in   the    West. 

garden  near  the  house,  and  this 
will  be  the  house  garden;  whatever 
else  you  can  afford  will  be  extra 
luxuries  but  the  house  garden  is 
essential. 

Flowers  are  grouped  together  ac- 
cording to  color,  height,  and  season 
of  bloom  for  the  succeeding  weeks 
of  spring,  summer  and  autumn. 
The  other  types  of  gardens,  bog, 
rock  and  shady,  all  depend  upon 
the  nature  of  the  property  and  the 
kinds  of  flowers  native  to  such 
environment. 

Preparing  the  Soil  for  the 
Perennial  Border 

Since  the  perennial  border  is  in- 
tended to  occupy  one  area  for  an 
extended  length  of  time,  and  since, 
after  it  is  planted,  you  cannot  dis- 
turb the  roots  by  seasonal  excava- 
tions, the  soil  should  be  made  per- 
manently rich  in  the  beginning  and 
deep,  with  good  drainage,  plenty 
of  well  decayed  manure  forked  in 
good  and  deep.  Clayey  soil  should 
be  worked  late  in  the  fall  and  left 
rough  so  the  frost  will  penetrate 
it,  and  if  too  hard  use  a  small 
amount  of  lime  and  horse  manure. 
Be  sure  the  drainage  is  good  for 


clay  soil.  Shallow  preparation  is 
the  cause  of  more  failure  than  any 
other  factor.  In  the  bottom  of  the 
border  scatter  broken  sod,  leaf- 
mold,  manure  and  broken  bone. 
For  the  top  course  rake  in  lime, 
bone  meal,  wood  ashes  and  some 
sandy  soil.  This  soil  preparation 
will  be  sufficient  for  a  thickly 
planted  border  for  five  or  six  years, 
after  which  the  garden  should  be 
dug  up  and  more  manure  forked 
in.  By  that  time  the  average  border 
needs  thinning  out  and  the  two 
jobs  can  be  done  at  the  same  time. 

Preparing  Annual  Beds  and 
Borders 

A  S  annuals  last  only  one  season 
and  most  all  shallow  rooted, 
there  is  no  necessity  for  such  per- 
manent preparation.  A  good  sandy 
loam  with  well-rotted  manure 
forked  in  deep  will  answer  the 
purpose.  When  the  annual  bed  or 
border  is  planted  to  bulbs  in  the 
autumn,  and  bulbs  lifted  after  they 
have  flowered  in  the  spring,  to 
make  room  for  summer  bedding 
plants,  the  soil  should  be  enriched 
between  these  two  crops.  Annuals 
have  a  short  life  and  require  plenty 
of  quick-acting  nourishment  to 
keep  them  going;  perennials  lead  a 
(Continued  on  page  3  60) 


J^'s  ilant  a 


337 


Qfio 


wer 


Garden 


By  MAUD  CHEGWIDDEN 


'A  garden  is  a  lovesome  thing,  God  wot! 

Rose  plot, 

Fringed  pool, 

Ferned  grot; 

The  veriest  school 

Of  peace.     And  yet  the  fool 

Contends  that  God  is  not. 

Not  God — in  gardens — when  the  eve  is 

cool? 
Nay,  for  I  have  a  sign: 
'Tis  very  sure  God  walks  in  mine." 

THE  Lord  God  planted  the 
first  garden,  "eastward  in 
Eden,"  and  yet  to  this  day 
there  are  folks  who  never  set  foot 
to  a  spade,  and  do  not  realize  their 
iniquity! 


Everybody,  to  make  life  com- 
plete, should  possess  a  flower 
garden.  Out  here  in  the  west, 
where  land  may  be  bought  so 
cheaply,  where  we  are  not  herded 
into  tenements  like  so  many  cliff 
dwellers,  we  should  have  gardens 
that  will  carry  the  fame  of  our 
rich  virgin  lands  and  our  marvelous 
climate  to  the  four  corners  of  the 
earth. 

Cures  for  all  ills  abound  in  a 
garden.     Centuries  before  the  birth 

"Here  in  cool  grot  and  mossy  dell 
The  rural  fays  and  fairies  dwell,'' 


of  Christ  plants  were  eagerly 
sought  for  and  nurtured  in  gardens, 
mainly  for  their  medicinal  qual- 
ities. Today,  although  we  may 
scorn  these  simple  herbs  and  their 
reputed  curative  possibilities,  we 
may  find  health  and  happiness  in 
a  garden. 

Professional  men  who  suffer 
from  lack  of  exercise  in  this  strictly 
automobile  age,  need  to  purchase  a 
plot  of  ground,  to  have  it  plough- 
ed, and  then  to  take  their  own 
good  hands  and  the  necessary  tools 
and  rake  and  pulverize  the  soil 
(Continued  on  puge  1>77) 


338 


Knows  ^11,  Sees  ^11 


BRIEFLY  (the  situation  was 
this:  Iris  David  had  been 
"told  by  Mme.  Yerzini — 
Knows  All,  Sees  AH,  and  Tells 
All;  Readings  $1.00,  Walk  In— 
that  the  future  clearly  foretold  her 
marriage  to  an  author.  Unfor- 
tunately Larry  Hamilton  was  not 
an  author.  His  hobby  during  the 
summer  months  away  from  school 
and  his  prospective  profession  was 
the  breeding  of  pedigreed  dogs. 
The  Glen  Briar  Kennels  at  his 
father's  country  place  were  already 
being  heard  tof  in  connection  with 
blue  ribbons  at  dog  shows. 

Vainly  had  Larry  argued  with 
Iris  that  Mme.  Yerzini  was  as  apt 
to  have  mentioned  any  other  pro- 
fession, but  she  felt  that  to  con- 
tinue being  engaged  to  Larry  in 
the  face  of  such  a  clear  call  would 
only  be  inviting  disaster  and  had 


cited  such  conclusive  examples  of 
the  Madame's  mysitic  powers  that 
even  Larry  was  somewhat  con- 
vinced. In  fact,  love  being  what 
it  is,  he  was  at  this  moment  on  his 
way  to  commune  with  the  Muses 
of  literary  composition. 

Upon  entering  the  sacred  portals 
of  the  Iota  Beta  Chi  house  he  went 
straightway  to  his  room  which  he 
shared  with  one  Digs  Burton,  It 
was  similar  to  the  other  rooms  of 
the  house  in  that  it  was  strewn 
with  a  litter  of  hand  towels  which 
had  forfeited  their  heritage,  socks 
wilted  by  the  wayside,  and  ties 
relegated  to  the  dishonor  of  dan- 
gling over  the  waste-basket.  There 
was  a  rhythmic  appearance  and  dis- 
appearance of  these  articles  begin- 
ning with  their  absence  on  Satur- 
day when  the  rooms  were  given 
a  thorough  and  purposeful  cleaning 


/  suppose 
you're  going 
over  to  the 
fair  Iris  and 
announce 
you^ve  con- 
quered the 
Fates  .  .  . 


by  Hulda  and  ending  Friday  in  a 
delightful  array  of  masculine  ap- 
parel arranged  with  superb  aban- 
don. 


Tc 


.ODAY  being  Wed- 
nesday, the  door  could  be  opened, 
and  was  at  this  moment  by  Mr. 
Hamilton.  A  familiar  noise  smote 
his  ears:  ZZZZZZZZZ-ah,  ZZZ- 
ZZZZZ-ah.  Larry  hurled  the  Ad- 
vance Principles  of  Organic  Chem- 
istry at  the  rising  and  falling 
abdomen  of  Digs  Burton,  whose 
knees  and  chest  snapped  together 
like  a  steel  trap.  The  Advanced 
Principles  of  Organic  Chemistry 
was  returned  to  its  owner  viciously 
accompanied  by  a  remark  to  the 
effect  that  it  was  a  burning  shame 
a  man  couldn't  take  a  beauty  sleep 
unharmed.  Whereupon  Larry  re- 
torted that  if  beauty  was  the 
purpose  of  his  nap,  Digs  would  do 
well  to  emulate  Rip  Van  Winkle. 
But  within  half  an  hour  peace  was 
restored  and  quiet  reigned  except 
for  Digs'  throaty  snoring  and  the 
clacking  of  Larry's  portable  type- 
writer. 

It   was  three  days  before  Digs 


and  Tells  oAll 


339 


By  HELEN 
CARROLL  LLOYD 


noticed  the  persistency  with  which 
Larry  was  pounding  the  type- 
writer. 

"What's  the  idea  of  copying 
your  notes  so  early  in  the  semes- 
ter?" 

"Not  copying  notes." 

"Don't  tell  me  it  takes  you  this 
long  to  write  home  for  money 
after  all  the  practice  you've  had?" 

"Not  writing  letters." 

Silence. 

"Well,  maybe  our  hero  is  writ- 
ing for  a  living?" 

"You'd  be  surprised." 

Clack-clack,  clack,  clackety- 
clack. 

Curiosity  conquered  and  Digs 
satisfied  it  by  employing  the  simple 
expedient  of  peering  over  his  com- 
panion's shoulder  to  read:  "The 
night  was  spun  of  moonbeams  and 
memories,  and  Allan  sat  alone  by 
the  fire  dreaming  of  his  lost  love." 

"You  mean  his  last  love  don't 
you?"  inquired  Digs. 

"Say,  you  get  out  of  here.  This 
is  none  of  your  business,"  cried 
Larry,  shielding  the  page  in  the 
typewriter  with  both  arms. 

Digs  rose  gallantly  to  this  chal- 
lenge, made  it  his  business  and  soon 
had  the  entire  tale  from  his  friend. 
He  cursed  Mme.  Yerzini  and  all  her 
ilk  to  an  eternal  existence  in  boiling 
oil  and  offered  to  proof-read  the 
masterpiece  and  give  it  a  thorough 
criticism. 

When  it  was  finally  done,  Larry 
systematically  made  out  a  list  of 
prospective  purchasers  including  all 
of  the  popular  magazines;  selected 
the  one  he  would  in  a  few  days 
pick  up  saying,  "Yes,  I  have  a 
story  in  this  issue,"  and  sent  the 
manuscript  out  on  its  maiden  voy- 
age. 

It  was  returned  with 
alarming  dispatch.  The  printed 
rejection  slip  held  cold  comfort  as 
prospect  number  one  was  crossed 
off.  A  week  or  two  passed  and  the 
hateful  self-addressed  envelopes  be- 
came a  bane  to  Larry's  existence. 
The  multi-colored  rejection  slips 
made  an  ironically  gay  streak  on 
the  wall  where  they  had  been 
thumbtacked. 

The  afternoon  mail  brought  an- 
other long  white  envelope  with  the 


Larry  was  pounding  the  typewriter. 

betraying  crease  down  its  middle. 
A  black  check  appeared  against  the 
last  name  on  the  list. 

"Well!" 

"What's  up?  Another  'scrap  of 
paper  r 

"Yes.  There  must  be  some- 
thing wrong  w!ith  my  story." 

"Really?  Which  side  of  the 
family  did  your  Uncle  Sherlock 
belong  to?" 

"Cut  the  gags  Digs.  This  is 
serious.  Iris  went  to  see  that 
greasy  wop  again  yesterday  and  she 
told  her  the  same  line.  But  Iris 
says  that  if  I  could  get  just  one 
story  published  it  would  be  enough 
to  be  called  a  sure  enough  author 
and  then  everything  would  be 
creamy." 

"Yes  and  if  Caesar's  mother  had 
lived  in  England  I  wouldn't  be 
breaking  in  new  brain  paths  on 
this  Latin  grammar." 

"What  about  Caesar's  father? 
But  lay  off  the  dead  languages, 
Digs,  and  help  me  put  some  life 
in  this." 

"Ask  me  something  hard," 
pleaded  Digs  as  he  deserted  the 
mighty  Roman  Ruler. 

After  a  lengthy  consultation  it 
was  decided  that  the  root  of  the 
undesirability    of    the    manuscript 


Iris  David  was  told  by  a  fortune  teller 
that  she  was  to  marry  an  author;  harry  was 
not  an  author^  and  therefore  this  story. 


lay  in  the  fact  that  Larry  was  try- 
ing to  write  about  something  of 
which  he  knew  nothing.  In  cor- 
recting this  mistake  it  was  but 
natural  that  he  should  choose  dogs 
for  the  subject  of  his  next  literary 
portrayal.  The  result  was  a  de- 
cided improvement.  Even  hanging 
participles  and  split  infinitives 
could  not  hide  the  charm  of  new- 
born, blind,  wriggling  puppies. 
It  was  filled  with  sparkling  bits  of 
quaint  canine  philosophy  and  in- 
cidents Larry  had  garnered  from 
his  long  association  with  dogs. 
Digs  pronounced  it  unequalled  but 
Larry  was  a  bit  skeptical  over  the 
success  of  his  labor  for  love.  How- 
ever, the  next  morning  a  second 
manuscript  set  sail  over  a  chartered 
route  of  ten  or  more  editorial  of- 
fices. 

The  sun  rose  and  set,  and  with 
as  fateful  regularity  appeared  black 
checks  on  the  second  list  of  "pros- 
pects." 

Larry  was  in  a  frightful  mood 
which  even  Digs  could  not  pene- 
trate. 

"Look  here,  I  ask  you  to  read 
this  rot,"  Larry  demanded  one 
night  flinging  down  a  popular 
weekly  publication.  "If  that  man 
knows  dogs  then  I'm,  an  author — 
ha,  ha,  ha.  Business  of  laughing 
hollowly." 

"Listen,  Vacuum,  don't  run  a 
temperature.  It's  hot  enough  in 
here.  Let's  see  what  the  thorn  in 
your  side  has  to  say."  Digs  picked 
up  the  magazine  and  read  the  "rot" 
under  discussion.  "And  to  think 
he  gets  paid  for  it!"  he  said  won- 
deringly  as  he  finished. 


Th 


LHERE  followed  a  criti- 
cism which  would  have  put  to 
shame  the  most  vitriolic  literary 
critic.  In  complete  disgust  Larry 
strode  to  the  desk  to  attack  a 
lengthy  Economic  assignment.  He 
read  belligerently  for  almost  an 
hour  when  he  stopped  midway  in 
a  page  to  ponder  over  the  follow- 


340 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


ing  words:  "The  value  of  any 
product  is  directly  dependent  upon 
the  supply  and  demand."  He  read 
them  again.  "H'm,"  he  mused, 
funny  the  idea  had  never  struck 
him  before. 

"Hey  Digs,  what  do  you  think 
of  this  for  a  sales  idea?"  He  had 
pounced  on  the  bed  and  was  talk- 
ing excitedly. 

The  next  morning  the  sound  of 
a  portable  typewriter  awakened 
several  of  the  less  ambitious  mem- 
bers of  the  Iota  Beta  Chi  as  it  was 
heard  on  the  early  morning  air. 
Instead  of  its  usual  sandwich  of 
two  sheets  of  white  and  one  sheet 
of  carbon  paper,  the  typewriter  was 
being  fed  dignified  slices  of  heavy 
manila  decorated  with  the  Iota 
Beta  Chi  seal.  When  the  twenty- 
fourth  letter  was  finished,  en- 
velopes were  served  to  the  machine. 
Whereupon  they  were  stamped 
and  the  letters  inserted.  But  along 
with  every  letter  bearing  the  fra- 
ternity's insignia,  went  another 
missive  already  sealed  and  stamped. 
Each  of  these  envelopes  was  dif- 
ferent and  although  everyone  bore 
the  same  address,  they  appeared  to 
have  been  written  by  24  different 
persons.  This  task  completed, 
Larry  sealed  the  large  envelopes 
containing  their  double  message 
and  grinned  broadly. 


Tt 


HE  Big  Gun  was 
finishing  his  weekly  conference 
with  the  staff  of  the  Plots  and 
Plans  short  story  magazine.  He 
cleared  his  throat  for  the  twentieth 
time  that  morning  and  continued: 
"And  I  would  like  to  remind  you 
again  that  we  are  all  one  great  big 
family  working  to  give  our  pub- 
lic the  best  short  stories  written. 
We  must  appeal  to  the  tired  busi- 
ness man  and  woman,  the  vaca- 
tionist, the  sportsman,  the  house- 
wife and  farmer.  Plots  and  Plans 
must  be  a  finger  on  the  pulse  of 
the  great  American  masses.  The 
correspondence  department  must 
have  an  alert  ear  attuned  to  the  de- 
sires of  our  readers  and  such  re- 
quests as  they  make,  we  must  try 
to  fulfill.  Ar-umph.  That  will 
be  all  until  next  Wednesday." 

The  staff  of  Plots  and  Plans 
scattered  to  their  posts,  with  ears 
alert  to  the  wishes  of  the  masses 
and  the  welcomje  sound  of  the  noon 
gong. 

That  afternoon  the  Big  Gun 
was  sitting  in  a  haze  of  smoke, 
pleasantly  ruminating  on  the  fu- 
ture of  Plots  and  Plans  when  a 
cautious   cough   broke    in    on    his 


reverie.      He    swiveled    around 
slowly. 

"What  is  it  Miss  Peterson?" 

"I  beg  your  pardon  for  inter- 
rupting, Mr.  Stone,  but  the  cor- 
respondence department  has  had 
numerous  requests  for  more  dog 
stories.  They  have  been  coming 
in  from  all  over  the  country." 

The  Big  Gun  was  immediately 
alert  to  the  demands  of  his  public. 

"Well,  what  about  Mr.  Wiley 
who  has  been  writing  dog  stories 
for  us — " 

"He  has  gone  to  Canada  to  do 
special  articles  for  the  Home  and 
Family,"  apologized  Miss  Peter- 
son faintly. 

"The  Home!  and  Family?  Ar- 
umph!  Well,  well,  well.  Let's 
see.  Haven't  we  any  other  con- 
tributing authors  who  could  give 
us  something  along  that  line?" 

"Mr.  Jackson  would  be  the  only 
one,  sir,  and  his  last  story  was  not 
— er — er  exactly  well  received  you 
remember." 

"Yes,  yes,  I  remember,"  asserted 
Mr.  Stone,  and  he  shuddered 
slightly.  Several  derogatory  com- 
ments had  been  received  by  the 
correspondence  department  follow- 
ing its  publication. 

"But,  Mr.  Stone,  I  have  here  a 
story  that  was  submitted  by  a  new 
author  which  seems  to  fill  the  bill, 
if  you  will  allow  me  to  use  that 
expression?" 

"Well  now,  let's  see  the  story. 
How  many  letters  did  you  say  we 
had  received  asking  for  another  dog 
story?" 

"I  should  say  about  twenty,  Mr. 


Stone.  Would  you  like  to  see 
them?" 

"No,  no,  not  just  now.  I'll 
read  this  manuscript  tonight  and 
let  you  know  in  the  morning  what 
to  do  about  it.  And,  Miss  Peter- 
son, I  appreciate  your  interest  in 
keeping  your  ear  attuned  to  the 
wishes  of  our  readers." 

"Yes  sir,  thank  you  sir,"  and 
the  door  closed  softly. 


Di 


'URING  the  next 
day  four  more  letters  came  to  the 
attention  of  the  correspondence 
editor  of  Plots  and  Plans  stating 
their  preference  for  dog  stories  very 
similar  to  the  one  submitted  by 
Mr.  Larry  Hamilton,  only  of 
course  they  did  not  mention  that 
young  man. 

The  fact  that  the  twenty-four 
letters  were  from  the  twenty-four 
cities  in  the  United  States  boasting 
chapters  of  the  Iota  Beta  Chi  was 
lost  entirely  upon  Mr.  Stone  when 
the  letters  were  laid  before  him.  He 
was  conscious  only  that  his  readers 
wanted  dog  stories  and  he  blessed 
Mr.  Hamilton  for  having  stepped 
so  aptly  into  the  breach  left  by  the 
departure  of  Mr.  Wiley  to  the 
ranks  of  Home  and  Family  and 
the  unfortunate  reception  of  Mr. 
Jackson's  tale.  This  was  not  a 
bad  story  either.  Full  of  heart 
interest  to  dog-lovers  and  a  rather 
interesting  style  withal.  So  it  was 
not  strange  that  a  few  days  later 
a  check  and  letter  of  acceptance  was 
dispatched  to  the  author  of  the 
manuscript. 

DiGS!  Digs!  Would 
you,  could  you,  believe  it.  Bite 
this  and  see  if  it's  real."  Larry 
exploded  into  the  room  waving  a 
white  slip  of  paper  above  his  head 
like  a  banner  of  victory. 

"What's  the  song  and  dance  this 
time?"  said  Digs,  eyeing  the  paper 
suspiciously,  "We  have  read  your 
story  with  interest  but  regret  that 
it  does  not  fill  any  immediate  need 
of  this  magazine?" 

"I'll  say  not.  Words  and  music 
by  First  National  playing  the 
march  of  fifty  iron  men — and  see 
here's  the  letter  they  wrote  accept- 
ing the  story." 

"There,  there,  now  just  lie 
down  and  relax.  It'll  go  away 
pretty  soon.  Digs'  I'il  roommate 
been  studying  too  hard." 

"Oh  yeah?  Well  it  hadn't  bet- 
ter go  away  until  I  show  Iris.  I 
hope  this  convinces  Mme.  Yerzini 
that  you  can't  keep  a  good  man 
down  and  that  love  will  out.    Gee, 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


341 


to  think  that  plan  worked  Uke  it 
did.  Here,  gimme  the  letter  and 
check.  I'm  going  over  to  see  Iris 
now."  Larry  was  prancing  around 
like  a  young  colt,  eager  to  be  off. 

"Listen  fever,  'becalmed,  be- 
calmed' as  the  seamen  cried  when 
the  wind  left  the  sails,  I  suppose 
you're  going  over  and  present 
yourself  before  the  fair  Iris  and 
announce  that  you've  conquered 
the  Fates  and  all's  well  again  with 
the  cards  and  crystals?" 

"Well  why  not?"  What  do 
you  think  I've  been  plunking  that 
portable  for?  What  do  you  think 
I  wrote  to  all  the  other  chapters 
for,  asking  them  to  forward  those 
letters  at  certain  dates  if  it  wasn't 
to  square  myself  with  Iris?  Now 
c'mon,  give  me  that  check  and 
letter." 

"Yes,  that's  just  it.  Square 
yourself  with  Iris,  but  for  how 
long  will  you  stay  squared?  Well 
I'll  tell  you.  Exactly  up  to  but 
not  including  the  time  that  Iris 
visits  another  fortune  teller  or 
numerologist.  She's  bugs  on  'em 
and  will  believe  anything  they  tell 
her."  Djigs  was  warming  to  his 
subject.  "How  many  of  these 
fakes  do  you  think  will  tell  her 
that  she  is  destined  to  be  the  soul 
mate  of  Mr.  Laurence  Hamilton. 
■How  many,  I'm  just  asking  you, 
how  many?" 


TTELEN  CARROLL  LLOYD 
■*-  -*  comes  by  her  writing  natur- 
ally, as  she  is  a  daughter  of  Elsie 
Chamberlain  Carroll,  one  of  the 
best  known  writers  in  the  Church. 
Mrs.  Lloyd  is  the  wife  of  Don 
Lloyd  and  is  making  her  home  in 
Salt  Lake  City.  Both  Mts.  Lloyd 
and  her  husband  uKre  graduated 
from  Brigham  Young  University 
and  since  that  time  have  spent  tuM 
or  three  years  in  Washington,  D.  C. 


"Oh  tell  her  you  went  to  visit 
Mme.  Yerzini  yourself,  then  hand 
her  a  big  line  of  hooey  about  your 
future  prospects." 

As  the  scowl  on  Larry's  face  did 
not  lift  at  this  suggestion  Digs 
went  on  pityingly,  "You  don't 
catch  on  so  quick  do  you?  Well 
I'll  go  over  it  once  more.  Now 
concentrate." 


Tv. 


Ai 


.S  Larry  started  to 
give  the  results  of  his  computations 
as  to  "how  many"  would  give  this 
answer  he  was  silenced  by  Digs' 
waving  finger. 

"You  just  keep  quiet  until  I  get 
through  and  then  if  you  still  want 
to  go  and  make  a  fool  of  yourself, 
why  go  ahead;  I  won't  lift  my 
finger  to  stop  you.  You  finally 
sold  a  story  by  pulling  off  a  regular 
sales  campaign.  How  long  do  you 
think  it  would  have  taken  you  if 
you  hadn't  written  all  those  let- 
ters? No,  I'm  not  through  yet. 
If  I  gave  you  a  chance  to  talk  you'd 
say,  'Well,  I  sold  a  story  and 
that's  all  I  bargained  to  do,  wasn't 
it?  I'm  an  author.'  But  was 
that  all  you  bargained  for?  What 
if  Mme.  Yerzini  had  said  "archi- 
tect" or  "artist"  instead  of  "au- 
thor?" You  were  just  lucky  the 
first  time.  When  Iris  goes  mystic 
again  what'U  prevent  the  All- 
Powerful  Crystal  Gazer  from  an- 
swering her  when  she  asks  'what 
kind  of  man  am  I  going  to  marry?' 
by  saying  that  she  is  destined  to 
become  the  wife  of  an  aviator  or 
sea  captain.     I  can  see  you  sailing 


the  high  seas  or  lofty  clouds  when 
a  merry-go-round  makes  you  lose 
interest  in  food.  I'm  telling  you 
this  for  your  own  good,  old  pal. 
You've  gotta  cure  her  of  that 
medium  complex.  You've  gotta 
show  her  who's  boss,  and  that  she 
can't  run  you  around  from  one 
profession  to  another,  depending 
on  how  the  cards  lie.  All  this 
I'm  telling  you  hurts  you  more 
than  it  does  me,  but  it's  what  you 
need.  Now  if  you  still  wantjo  go 
trotting  over  to  Iris  and  tell  her 
you've  slain  the  three-headed  dra- 
gon and  what's  next  on  the  pro- 
gram, why  go  ahead  and  blessing 
on  you,  little  man."  Digs  pulled  a 
handkerchief  of  questionable  color 
from  his  nether  pocket  and  mopped 
his  brow.  As  he  did  so  he  stole  a 
glance  at  Larry  who  was  standing 
silent  with  a  sharp  pucker  between 
his  eyes.    Finally  he  spoke : 

"You — you  mean  Iris  would — 
would  ask  another  fortune  teller 
that  same  question  after — after 
this?" 

"Sure." 

"But  why.  You  said  yourself 
she  believed  in  such  things.  Why 
would  she  ask  again  after  I'd  made 
the  first  prediction  come  true?" 

"Don't  ask  me.  Just  the  nature 
of  the  species.  They've  always 
asked  that  question — and  they  al- 
ways will,"  he  added  prophetically. 

Larry  sank  to  the  edge  of  the 
bed,  the  thrilling  letter  and  check 
forgotten  in  the  face  of  new  ob- 
stacles. 

"Aw  cheer  up.  The  case  isn't 
hopeless.  It's  just  like  I  was  tell- 
ing you — you've  gotta  cure  her  of 
believing  in  these  fortune  tellers 
and  crystal  gazers." 

"Well  what  would  you  suggest. 
Should  I  write  a  book  disclosing 
their  evil  practices?"  Larry  offered 
sarcastically. 

"Now  that  you  mention  it — 
no!"  brightly  responded  Digs, 
"Why  don't  you  try  playing  her 
at  her  own  game?" 

"How?" 


.HE  sun  was  almost 
history  for  the  day  by  the  time 
Digs  felt  that  Larry  was  well  forti- 
fied enough  to  brave  an  interview 
with  Miss  Iris  David.  He  accom- 
panied him  down  the  steps  to  the 
community  telephone  booth,  talk- 
ing to  him  earnestly,  and  waited 
without  while  Larry  made  certain 
that  young  lady  was  at  home  and 
would  welcome  his  appearance. 
Then  the  two  boys  departed  from 
the  fraternity  house  and  started 
down  the  street. 

"Do  you  think  you  can  remem- 
ber all  that?"  Digs  questioned. 

"Sure,"  replied  Larry,  "and 
probably  a  lot  more  I  make  up  on 
the  scene."  His  eyes  were  alight 
with  conspiracy. 

"That's  right,  lay  it  on  thick. 
You  can't  tell  her  too  much.  Well, 
I'll  leave  you  here.  Got  to  go  up 
to  the  library — remember,  get 
started  before  she  does  and  good 
luck." 

Digs  swung  off  at  right  angles 
after  giving  Larry  a  hearty  slap  on 
his  broad  sweatered  back. 

Presently  Larry  sauntering  up 
the  walk  of  the  House  of  David 
spied  Iris  clad  in  white  organdie 
and  looking  lovely  as  she  sat  idly 
swaying  the  porch  swing. 

"Hi  there,"  he  called,  "you  look 
as  cool  as  a  snow  princess." 

"Then  I'm  downright  deceit- 
ful," she  laughed  as  she  made 
room  for  him  beside  her  on  the 
swing.  "But  what  did  you  have 
to  tell  me  Larry.  I've  been  simply 
consumed  with  curiosity  ever  since 
you  phoned.  Is — is  it  something 
about  your  being  an — an  author?" 
she  asked  expectantly,  her  eyes 
shining  up  at  him. 

"Well  sort  of,"  Larry  drew  an 
envelope  from  the  fold  in  his 
sweater  and  handed  it  to  her.  The 
lamp  light  from  the  window  en- 
abled her  to  read  its  contents  and 
when  she  had  finished  she  breathed 
softly. 

{Continued  on  page  378) 


342 


In  this  article  a  man  who 
has  suffered  from  the  invasion 
of  the  m^achine^  as  all  have 
suffered  directly  or  indirectly y 
comes  to  the  support  of  the 
machine y  but  insists  that  in- 
telligent people  should  m^ake 
the  m^achine  support  them^ 
rather  than  be  compelled  to 
support  the  machine.  Above 
ally  he  believes  the  Am-eri- 
can^s  Job  should  be  protected. 


A  REPORT  of  a  group  of 
American  Engineers,  esti- 
mated that  there  would  be 
11,000,000  wage-earners  out  of 
employment  during  the  winter. 
The  Engineers  also  predicted  that 
20,000,000  wage-earners  would 
be  jobless  within  two  years. 

The  engineers'  survey  was  not 
concerned  with  the  problem  of 
starving  men,  women  and  children, 
but  was  the  result  of  ten  years' 
effort  and  study  of  technological 


^i 


mertcan 


By 


W.  J.  HOLDER 

unemployment  —  unemployment 
which  resulted  when  machines  dis- 
placed men. 

They  said  nothing  the  govern- 
ment had  proposed  constituted  a 
constructive  policy.  "Such  a  pol- 
icy must  involve  an  industrial 
solution,  some  method  of  solving 
the  unemployment  problem.  Some 
system  must  be  achieved  with  the 
widest  dispensation  of  benefits  and 
the  least  incidental  misery. 

"The  'five-day  week,  the  Recon- 
struction Finance  Corporation,  low 
cost  housing  projects,  and  similar 
measures  enlisted  in  the  fight  to 
bring  back  prosperity  will  have 
little  or  no  effect  on  the  steady 
growth  in  the  number  of  wage- 
earners  displaced  by  machines," 
they  said. 

This  being  the  case,  some  feas- 
ible method  must  be  devised  to 
protect  the  American  job,  for  if 
the  workers  are  not  employed,  we 
cannot  build  up  an  adequate  pur- 
chasing power  for  our  nation's 
business. 


M 


Before  we  can  really  understand 
a  method  of  protecting  the  Amer- 
ican job,  we  must  understand  a 
little  of  what  has  happened  to 
cause  the  American  job  to  need 
protection,  and  how  it  has  come 
about.  We  must  know  a  little 
about  the  workings  of  machinery 
and  how  it  is  employed  to  displace 
workers,  and  why  it  is  employed  to 
displace  workers  in  many  cases. 
We  must  understand  that  we  have 
two  classes  of  machinery:  one,  a 
progressive  class,  the  other  a  retro- 
gressive type;  or,  in  other  words, 
one  that  produces  labor  and  creates 
jobs,  the  other  that  absorbs  labor 
and  abolishes  jobs.  Until  one  un- 
derstands the  difference  between 
these  two  classes  of  machines,  it  is 
difficult  to  understand  how  a  job- 
protecting  system  could  work.  So 
we  shall  begin  first  by  learning 
why  and  how  machines  displace 
men,  and  if  this  displacement  is  al- 
ways for  the  welfare  of  our  nation 
and  the  good  of  the  people  gener- 
ally, or,  if  it  is  most  generally  for 
the  greed  of  a  few  profit-mad  in- 
dividuals. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


343 


T  TP  until  the  beginning  of  the 
twentieth  century,  machinery 
was  in  a  stage  of  more  or  less  ex- 
perimentation. It  took  many  men 
to  build  machines,  and  many  more 
to  operate  them.  The  automatic 
device  and  remote  control  systems 
were  unheard  of.  But  from  the 
beginning  of  the  twentieth  century 
rapid  gains  have  been  made  in  the 
progress  of  labor  saving  machinery, 
not  with  the  intention  of  lighten- 
ing the  work  of  'the  people  gener- 
ally, but  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
obtaining  high  profits  and  low 
labor  costs.  Each  year  conditions 
have  grown  worse,  until  now,  we 
are  on  the  brink  of  an  unemploy- 
ment disaster.  Some  call  it  a  busi- 
ness depression. 

According  to  the  National  In- 
dustrial Conference  Board,  for  the 
average  of  all  manufacturing  in- 
dustries, an  output  that  required 
109  workers  in  1900,  was  pro- 
duced by  100  workers  in  1914, 
and  by  only  71  workers  in  1925. 
Later  statistics  are  not  now  avail- 


able, but  it  is  certain  that  the 
figures  for  the  present  time  are  con- 
siderably smaller.  Some  estimate 
them  to  be  as  low  as  40  workers. 

Before  going  further  into  the 
discussion  of  protecting  the  Amer- 
ican job,  let  us  look  up  a  few  sta- 
tistics which  can  be  found  at  most 
any  public  library. 

One  American  automobile 
worker  in  1929  did  as  much  work 
as  14  such  workers  did  25  years 
before.  This  is  shown  by  the  re- 
searches of  a  group  of  scientists  In 
the  industrial  engineering  depart- 
ment of  Columbia  University. 
They  back  the  astounding  state- 
ments with  figures,  as  follows: 

A  man-hour  in  their  discussion 
is  one  man  working  for  one  hour. 

"In  1904,  it  took  1,291  man- 
hours  to  make  a  car.  In  1919,  it 
took  313  man-hours  to  make  a  car. 
In  1929,  it  took  92  man-hours  to 
make  a  car — incidentally,  a  much 
better  car. 

"In  1919,  the  auto  plants  of  the 
United  States  employed  606,410,- 
000  man-hours  to  make  1,600,- 
000  automobiles. 

"Ten  years  later,  in  1929,  it 
took  only  521,469,000  man-hours 
to  make  5,600,000  automobiles. 
In  ten  years,  the  output  had  been 
multiplied  by  three  and  a  half, 
while  the  employment  had  drop- 
ped  14  per  cent." 

TN  another  research  in  the  coal 
fields,  we  find,  that  in  1919,  it 
took  an  average  of  1600  man- 
hours  to  produce  1200  tons  of 
coal.  While  in  1931,  it  took  an 
average  of  320  man-hours  to  pro- 
duce 1800  tons  of  coal. 

We  read  from  The  Literary  Di- 
gest, March  7,  1931,  page  30: 

"A  new  era  in  sugar-cane  har- 
vesting dawned  in  Florida  today. 


"Seven  huge  harvesting-ma- 
chines, each  designed  to  cut  500 
tons  a  day,  took  to  the  undulating 
fields  of  the  Southern  Sugar  Com- 
pany in  the  Everglades,  near  here, 
for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of 
the  industry,  and  eight  more  sim- 
ilar harvesters  are  to  be  put  to  work 
shortly. 

"Each  miachine  is  capable  of 
doing  the  work  of  200  hand-la- 
borers. Sugar-men  say  they  expect 
the  harvesters  to  do  for  the  cane- 
growers  what  'the  combines  have 
done  for  the  wheat-farmer  In  the 
Middle  West. 

"P.  G.  Bishop,  receiver  for  the 
sugar  company,  estimated  that 
with  the  machines  In  operation, 
the  company  could  reap  a  net 
profit  of  $1,500,000  from  this 
year's  crop." 

From  the  Musicians'  Magazine, 
we  read:  "More  than  300,000 
musicians  have  lost  their  jobs  in 
the  picture  show  houses  since  the 
advent  of  the  talking  pictures." 

From  The  Literary  Digest, 
April  25,  1931,  page  19,  we  read: 

"This  'piano' -type  control  key- 
board was  designed  by  the  com- 
pany so  that  one  person  can  easily 
control  a  large  number  of  auxiliary 
mill  drives." 

From  The  Electrical  Journal,  we 
read:  "Gone  are  the  days  when 
the  traveling  public  and  railway 
employees  take  chances  on  flaws 
occurring  in  the  rails  over  which 
our  transcontinental  trains  whiz 
along  at  the  rate  of  60  miles  an 
hour,  all  because  a  robot  investi- 
gator is  employed  to  detect  the 
flaws  In  the  rails  as  well  as  paint 
the  rail  at  the  location  of  the  flaw 
— thereby  relegating  the  track 
walker  with  his  keen  eye  to  the 
ranks  of  the  unemployed." 


344 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


'"pHIS  robot,  operated  by  two 
men,  will  travel  over  160  miles 
of  track  daily,  thus  doing  the  work 
that  formerly  required  8  men  to 
watch.  No  doubt  the  machine  can 
do  this  job  better,  but  why  should 
the  machine  not  be  made  respons- 
ible for  the  support  of  a  part  of 
the  six  men  whose  jobs  it  has  taken 
permanently.  The  two  men,  who 
remain  to  operate  it,  will  most 
likely  be  assessed  a  small  percentage 
of  their  wages  to  help  support  the 
unemployed.  But  what  will  the 
machine  that  has  taken  their  jobs 
be  assessed?  So  far  nothing  has 
ever  been  paid  by  the  machines,  for 
supporting  the  unemployed,  whose 
jobs  they  have  taken. 

The  Telephone  Company  has 
displaced  many  thousands  of  girl- 
operators  at  their  switchboards 
with  the  dial,  or  rather  an  auto- 
matic system.  The  newspapers 
carried  a  news  item  stating  that 
3,000  girls  had  been  displaced  in 
one  city.  That  was  a  few  years 
ago,  and  at  that  time  we  thought 
it  a  great  and  clever  labor-saving 
scheme;  but  today  we  are  begin- 
ning to  see  the  folly  lof  the  scheme. 
For  such  schemes  have  put  millions 
of  people  out  of  work,  and  left  us 
without  a  purchasing  power. 

One  could  go  on  indefinitely 
citing  cases  where  industrial  and 
manufacturing  concerns  have  dis- 
placed many  workers  with  me- 
chanical contrivances;  some,  for 
the  betterment  of  mankind,  but  far 
in  the  majority  for  the  sole  purpose 
of  high  profit  and  low  labor  costs. 

We  are  told  that  the  depression 
began  in  1929.  This  may  be 
when  big  business  began  to  feel  it; 
but  to  the  working  class,  it  has 
existed  ever  since  the  end  of  the  late 
World  War. 

There  were  no  jobs  waiting  for 
the  returning  soldiers  as  they  ar- 
rived home  from  the  military 
camps.  From  that  date,  one  could 
find  hundreds  of  men  at  the  gates 
of  the  industrial  plants  of  our  na- 
tion, every  morning,  looking  for 
jobs.  Each  year  it  has  grown 
worse,  until  today  men  know  there 
are  no  jobs  left,  and  so  we  find 
them  now  walking  the  streets,  cry- 
ing for  bonuses,  doles,  charity,  or 
whatever  they  can  get,  which  isn't 
much.  They  will  continue  to  walk 
the  streets,  if  they  don't  do  some- 
thing worse,  until  we  have  pro- 
tection for  the  American  jobs. 
After  that  there  will  be  no  cry  for 
bonuses  or  doles.  Men  will  be  at 
work  with  the  machine  and  there 


will   be   no   need   for   bonuses   or 
charity. 

We  hear  daily  the  plea  for  the 
creation  of  more  jobs  for  our 
workers,  in  order  to  get  them  back 
to  work.  Of  what  use  is  there  in 
creating  more  jobs,  until  some 
method  is  worked  out  to  protect 
the  jobs  that  are  already  created? 
If  a  job  is  created,  it  is  no  time 
until  some  labor-saving  scheme  for 
high  profit  is  devised  to  do  the 
work  mechanically,  and  the  ma- 
jority of  the  men  employed  are 
forced  to  rejoin  the  ranks  of  the 
unemployed. 

ANYONE  doubting  the  asser- 
tion, in  regard  to  machines 
being  built  rapidly  to  displace  men, 
has  but  to  turn  to  the  weekly  news 
magazine,  "Time,"  of  June  15, 
1931,  page  5 1 .  There  he  will  find 
an  advertisement  by  an  engineering 
company,  offering  to  build  any 
kind  of  a  machine  needed  to  dis- 
place the  "slow,  costly  hand  la- 
bor." But  as  slow  and  costly  as 
the  hand  labor  may  seem,  it  gives 
to  us  something  that  the  swift 
moving  machine  can  never  give  us. 
It  gives  us  a  purchasing  power,  a 
power,  that  the  machinery  of  the 
labor  saving  class  can  never  give 
us,  without  which  all  machinery  is 
worthless. 

We  do  not  wish  to  abolish  the 
machine  age,  as  some  writers  have 
suggested;  we  just  want  to  use  it 
intelligently.  Everyone  knows, 
who  has  studied,  that  we  must  use 
machinery  if  we  are  to  progress. 
But  we  must  not  try  to  use  it  con- 
trary to  the  laws  of  nature.  It 
must  be  used  to  help  all  mankind, 
and  not  used  for  the  sole  purpose 


Indestructible 

By  Alien  Stephenson 

COMMON  table  salt 
Can  be  broken  up 
Into  sodium  and  chlorine. 
The  sodium  exists 
And   the  chlorine  exists 
And  nothing  is  lost. 

The  beauty  of  a  sunset,  too, 

Is  broken  up 

Into  a  thousand 

Constituent  parts 

That  fade 

And  seem  as  nothing. 

But  that  beauty  exists 

*  *  *  (Somewhere  *  ♦  * 
And  glows  again — • 
Always  and  ever  again — 

*  *   *  Somewhere  *  *  * 
In  a  human  'Soul! 


of  high  profits  and  low  labor  costs, 
to  help  just  a  few  people  create 
great  wealth. 

We  must  learn  that  a  permanent 
prosperity  of  any  part  of  our  peo- 
ple was  conditioned  upon  the  pros- 
perity of  all;  and  that  on  the  other 
hand  any  effort  to  raise  the  general 
level  of  happiness  by  striking  at  the 
well-being  of  a  portion  of  the  peo- 
ple could  not  be  but  in  the  end 
disastrous  to  all. 

We  readily  see  the  necessity  of 
the  emigration  laws,  to  protect  the 
people  against  the  invasion  of  for- 
eign labor;  but  so  far  we  have 
failed  to  see  the  necessity  of  a  law 
protecting  our  people  against  the 
invasion  of  certain  kinds  of  ma- 
chines, without  paying  part  of  the 
price  of  displacement  of  the  laborer. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  article 
I  showed  how  the  automobile  in- 
dustry had  lowered  the  amount  of 
man-hours  to  produce  a  car.  Yet, 
the  automobile  in  itself  is  the  great- 
est producer  of  labor  that  we  have. 
It  produces  almost  one-fourth  of 
the  labor  in  our  country.  Accord- 
ing to  the  National  Automobile 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  there  were 
more  than  8,000,000  workers  di- 
rectly employed  in  making  auto- 
mobiles and  parts,  at  one  time  in 
1926.  There  were  another  4,- 
000,000  workers  employed  by  in- 
dustries created  by  the  automobile, 
such  as  road  building  and  supply- 
ing of  raw  materials,  details  of 
equipment,  oil,  gasoline,  and  serv- 
ices of  various  kinds.  This  must 
all  be  figured  as  produce  of  the 
automobile. 

'"pHE  automobile  in  itself,  takes 
no  man's  job,  but  is  constant- 
ly creating  jobs.  Although  there 
have  been  many  labor  saving 
schemes  used  in  the  automobile)  in- 
dustry that  would  come  under  the 
job  protection  system,  the  auto- 
mobile in  itself  would  not  be  in- 
cluded in  this  class.  The  auto- 
mobile is  now  taxed  from  4  to  17 
times  more  than  any  other  piece 
of  machinery  of  the  same  valuation 
in  the  country.  The  taxes  on  the 
automobile  should  be  drastically 
lowered,  and  shifted  on  to  the  ma- 
chines that  are  used  for  high  profit. 
In  this  way  we  would  create  a 
better  market  for  the  automobile, 
and  it  would  create  still  more  jobs. 
The  radio,  if  used  in  the  home, 
is  a  job  producer;  but  when  used 
in  a  public  place  for  profit,  it  be- 
comes a  labor  saving  scheme,  if  it 
takes  the  place  of  musicians  in  pub- 
lic performances.     The  same  is  true 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


345 


of  the  phonograph,  or  any  mechan- 
ical form  of  music.  And  when 
used  for  public  performances,  for 
profit,  it  should  come  under  the 
job  protection  system. 

Under  our  present  laws,  if  used 
in  a  public  performance  for  profit, 
it  is  privately  taxed,  by  a  group  of 
individuals,  known  as  The  Amer- 
ican Society  of  Composers  and 
Publishers. 

Any  device  used  in  the  medical 
profession,  if  used  in  any  way  to 
heal  the  sick,  cannot  be  classed  as  a 
labor  saving  scheme,  for  it  is  not 
used  for  the  sole  purpose  of  dis- 
placing other  people  in  the  profes- 
sion or  for  high  profits  for  the 
people  who  use  it.  Such  a  device 
is  of  the  real  progressive  type  of 
machinery. 

The  telephone,  when  not  con- 
nected with  an  automatic  device,  is 
a  labor  producer;  but  when  it  be- 
comes an  automatic  system,  it  be- 
comes a  dangerous  labor  saving 
scheme. 

When  the  telephone  company 
built  an  automatic  system  in  one 
of  the  large  eastern  cities,  at  the 
cost  of  $5,000,000  many  people 
wondered  how  they  could  get  their 
investment  returned  to  them  in 
any  reasonable  length  of  time.  This 
automatic  system  was  built  to  dis- 
place 3,000  girl  telephone  oper- 
ators who  welre  receiving  an  aver- 
age wage  of  $18  a  week  at  that 
time.  Now  if  we  figure  for  a 
minute,  we  shall  find  that  the 
wages  saved  by  using  the  auto- 
matic system  for  22  months  will 
be  $5,148,000.  From  this  date 
on  the  wages  saved  by  using  the 
machine  are  practically  clear  profits, 
as  the  expense  of  maintenance  is 
very  small. 

There  are  many  of  these  labor 
saving  schemes  being  used, 
through  the  nation,  that  have 
gradually  broken  down  the  pur- 
chasing power  of  our  country,  and 
must  be  stopped  if  we  are  to  regain 
the  purchasing  power  that  is  neces- 
sary to  keep  business  functioning 
properly. 

'M'O  thinking  person  should  be 
opposed  to  machine  labor,  but 
every  patriotic  citizen  should  be 
opposed  to  the  profits  which  ma- 
chine labor  has  created  the  last  few 
years  at  the  expense  of  the  working 
people. 

I  might  cite  the  effects  of  a  few 
more  of  the  machines  that  can  be 
classed  as  of  the  dangerous  labor- 
saving  type.  For  instance,  let  me 
refer  to  the  "cane-harvester"  that 


is  being  used  at  present  in  Florida. 

Each  machine  displaces  200  men 
who  were  formerly  paid  $3.00  per 
day.  These  men  received  $600 
per  day  for  wages.  The  machine 
that  has  displaced  them  cost  $15,- 
000.  By  using  the  machine  for 
only  25  days,  the  original  cost  of 
the  machine  can  be  met  from 
money  saved  in  wages.  The  200 
men  who  were  formerly  employed 
in  the  cane-fields  are  now  jobless, 
and  have  ceased  to  have  a  purchas- 
ing power.  The  $18,000  per 
month  that  was  formerly  paid  in 
wages,  to  be  spent  by  the  workers 
for  the  necessities  of  life,  which 
created  a  purchasing  power  for  the 
nation,  are  now  paid  as  profits  to 
a  few  people.  But,  if  we  remem- 
ber there  are  1 5  machines  at  work, 
each  displacing  200  men,  for  a 
total  of  3000  harvest  hands,  the 
savings  in  wages  for  the  sugar 
company  amounts  to  $270,000 
per  month.  This  money  no  longer 
is  used  as  a  purchasing  power  for 
our  nation,  but  is  used  to  divert 
wealth  into  the  hands  of  a  few 
people. 

Mr.  Bishop,  receiver  for  the 
sugar  company,  was  not  far  wrong 
in  his  estimating,  that  the  com- 
pany would  reap  a  net  profit  of 
$1,500,000  from  the  year's  labor 
saving  scheme. 

We  find,  on  investigation,  that 
very  few  firms  will  invest  more 
than  $2500  per  man  displaced,  for 
machinery.  They  must  be  pretty 
sure  that  their  investment  will  be 
returned  within  two  years  or  they 
will  not  take  the  chance  of  the 
investment.  Many  will  not  go 
beyond  $1500  per  man-cost-dis- 
placement, and  others  must  be  as- 
sured that  the  machine  will  save  its 
price  in  wages  the  first  year,  before 


Prayer 

By   Aurelia   Pyper 

TT'S  such  a   simple  thing, 
-*  A   prayer — 

A  few  words  breathed  in  faith  and  trust, 
A  plea  for  help  when  someone  must. 
And  it  is  there. 

It's    such    a    humble    thing, 

A    prayer^ — 
Sincerely   asked   on   bended   knee, 
From    hearts   in   deep   humility; 

And    souls    laid    bare. 

It's  such  a  precious  thing, 

A    prayer — 
A  talk  with  God  across  the  veil, 
The  knowledge  that  He  will  not  fail 
His  love   to   share. 


they  will  buy.  After  that,  very 
little  of  the  money  goes  to  the 
public  as  a  purchasing  power  for 
the  nation,  but  goes  into  the  banks 
as  created  wealth. 

It  is  this  kind  of  labor-saving 
scheme  introduced  during  the  last 
1 5  years,  that  has  given  the  nation 
so  many  unemployed  people,  and 
so  small  a  purchasing  power. 

TX7HEN  a  mining  company  in- 
stalled  a  car-dumping  ma- 
chine at  one  of  their  concentrate 
mills  at  a  cost  of  $125,000,  they 
received  no  little  mention  in  the 
state  papers  where  the  work  was 
done,  commenting  upon  the  won- 
derful device.  One  paper  even 
stated  how  the  company  was  look- 
ing out  for  the  welfare  of  its  em- 
ployees, by  making  their  plant  all 
modern.  Here  is  the  inside  story 
of  that  change  from  man  to  ma- 
chine. It  required  30  men  on  a 
shift  to  dump  cars  and  break  up 
the  rocks  that  were  too  large  to 
go  into  the  crushers.  By  installing 
the  dumper  and  a  larger  rock 
crusher  two  men  on  a  shift  could 
do  the  work  that  was  before  re- 
quiring 30  men.  The  outlay  for 
the  change  would  be  $125,000. 
The  men  at  that  time  received 
$4.50  per  day.  The  machine  dis- 
placed 84  men  (28  on  each  shift) . 
We  find  that  the  saving  in  wages 
of  $4.50  pejr  day,  on  84  men  will 
a  little  more  than  pay  for  the 
change  in  331  days. 

There  are  countless  numbers  of 
these  labor  saving  schemes  being 
used  today  to  displace  workers. 

Ten  years  ago,  these  men,  dis- 
placed by  machines,  stood  a  pretty 
good  chance  of  being  absorbed  in 
other  lines  of  industry;  but  the 
scheme  of  using  machines  has 
grown  to  such  large  proportions 
that  today  there  is  very  little  op- 
portunity of  men's  getting  jobs. 
Efiiciency  has  increased  on  the 
average  so  rapidly  that  new  activ- 
ities are  not  sufficient  to  care  for 
the  growing  number  of  workers 
displaced  by  machines.  That's 
why  we  must  have  "Protection  for 
the  American  Job"  if  we  want  a 
purchasing  power  for  our  country. 

A  protective  labor  system, 
which  could  be  made  very  effective 
in  protecting  the  workers  against 
unemployment,  would  work  some- 
thing like  this:  If  a  firm  was 
employing  200  men  on  a  job,  and 
a  machine  was  invented  that  would 
displace  100  workers,  the  firm 
could  be  compelled  to  use  the  ma- 
(Continued  on  page  380) 


34S 


WHY  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  FACULTY 

<^thletic  (onference 

By  RALPH  J.  GILMORE 

Since  the  Rocky  Mountain  Athletic  Conference  includes  the 
most  thickly  -populated  area  of  the  Churchy  and  since  thousands  of 
young  men  of  this  region^  including  a  high  percentage  of  Latter-day 
Saint  men^  participate  in  athletics  in  one  or  the  other  of  these  in- 
stitutions of  higher  learning^  this  article  by  Professor  R .  J.  Gilm^ore, 
■  secretary  of  the  Conference  ought  to  be  of  paramount  interest. 


THE  widespread  interest  in 
college  athletics  is  one  of  the 
most  striking  developments 
of  modern  times.  With  this  inter- 
est has  come  the  obligation  of  edu- 
cational institutions  to  so  control 
and  direct  athletic  activities  that 
they  might  prevent  too  serious  in- 
terference with  the  academic  pro- 
gram and  to  develop  and  safeguard 
any  educational  values  peculiar  to 
organized  games. 

Individual  colleges  sought  to 
establish  their  own  rules  and  to 
control  their  own  athletic  affairs. 
A  few  of  the  larger  stronger  ones 
succeeded  rather  well.  But  the 
great  majority,  however  strong, 
found  it  highly  desirable  to  pool 
their  several  experiences  and  to 
evolve  common  codes  under  which 
all  should  operate.  And  so  de- 
veloped the  idea  of  the  athletic  con- 
ference. The  first  of  these  to  be 
organized,  the  Western  Intercol- 
legiate Athletic  Conference,  came 
into  existence  in  1895.  Since  then 
^7   have   been    organized    with   a 


membership  of  nearly  four  hun- 
dred universities  and  colleges. 

The  Rocky  Mountain  Faculty 
Athletic  Conference  organized 
1909  is  now  listed  among  the  ten 
most  prominent  and  best  operated 
conferences  in  the  United  States. 

r^N  January  30,  1909,  represen- 
tatives of  the  University  of 
Colorado,  Colorado  College,  and 
the  Colorado  Agricultural  College 
organized  the  Colorado  Faculty 
Athletic  Conference.  A  constitu- 
tion land  eligibility  rules  were 
formally  adopted.  The  first  rules 
were  chiefly  a  codification  of  the 
generally  accepted  unwritten  rules 
under  which  intercollegiate  con- 
tests had  been  held  in  the  Rocky 
Mountain  region  up  to  that  time. 
Representatives  from  the  Colorado 
School  of  Mines  and  the  University 
of  Denver  attended  conference 
sessions  as  guests  from  the  begin- 
ning, while  a  representative  from 
the  University  of  Utah  was  pres- 
ent  at   the  December   meeting  of 


TACVVTY 

REPRESEJ\. 

TATIVES 

Front  rotv,  left 
to  right:  H.  L, 
Marshall,  V.  of 
v.;  Ralph  J. 
Giltnore,  C,  C; 
A.  C.  Nelson, 
D,  v.;  A,  IS. 
Sorenson,  JJ.  S. 

A.  Ci  C.  Hen- 

ry     Smith,     C. 

v.     Back  row, 

left    to    right : 

C.  E.  Davis,  W.  S.  C;  S.  H.  Knight,  Wyoming  I/.;  D.  B. 

Swingle,    M.    S.;    J.    C.   Fitterer,    C.    Mines,    Parley   A. 

Christenson,  B.  Y.  V, 


1909  and  one  from  Utah  State 
Agricultural  College  at  the  meet- 
ings of  1911-12-13.  The  Colo- 
rado School  of  Mines  joined  the 
conference  November  4,  1909, 
University  of  Utah  March  26, 
1910,  University  of  Denver  May 
7,  1910.  At  this  latter  date  the 
name  was  changed  to  the  Rocky 
Mountain  Faculty  Athletic  Con- 
ference. 

Utah  State  Agricultural  College 
was  admitted  February  28,  1914, 
Montana  State  College  January  6, 
1917,  Brigham  Young  University 
January  12,  1918,  University  of 
Wyoming  January  8,  1921,  West- 
ern State  College  and  Colorado 
State  Teachers  College,  December 
6,  1924;  the  University  of  New 
Mexico  was  affiliated  with  the  con- 
ference from  1910  until  1931, 
when  the  Border  States  Athletic 
Conference  was  organized;  Mt.  St. 
Charles  has  been  affiliated  since 
1927. 

Each  institution  is  represented 
in  the  conference  by  a  member  of 


COACHES 
R.  M.  A.  C. 


Front  row,  left 
to  right:  T.  L. 
Mead,  W.  S, 
C;  Fred  IF. 
Dixon  (Asst, 
Coach),  B.  Y. 
f/. ;  Harry 
Hughes,  C.  A. 
C. ;  Ike  Arm- 
strong, JJ.  of 
U ;  Myron  E. 
Witham  (For- 
nt  e  r  Coach), 
C.  JJ.',  ISewelt 
J.  Cravath,  D» 
JJ.  Back  row,  left  to  right :  J.  R.  Rhodes,  W.  JJ. ;  C.  H.  Allen, 
C.  M.;  W.  H.  Saunders,  C.  JJ.;  E.  L.  Romney,  JJ.  S,  A.  C,; 
G.  O.  Romney,  B.  Y.  JJ. ;  V under graaf,  C.  C. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April.,  1933 


347 


Brighani  Young  University 

the  faculty  of  professorial  rank 
and  entrusted  with  power  to  act. 
An  organization  of  Athletic  Direc- 
tors consisting  of  one  representative 
from  each  conference  institution 
works  with  the  faculty  group. 

r^URING  the  twenty-three  years 
of  its  active  existence  the  con- 
ference has  built  up  an  elaborate 
code  of  rules  and  machinery  for 
enforcement.      A    large    group    of 


UTAH  MEMBERS  R.  M.  F.  A.  C. 
Utah  State  Agricultural  College 

rules  affect  the  eligibility  of  the 
student  to  participate  in  intercol- 
legiate contests.  Such  rules  include 
regulations  as  to  registration  and 
residence,  scholarship  previous  to 
participation,  scholarship  during 
participation,  absence  from  college, 
migration,  transfers  from  junior 
college,  extent  of  participation,  and 
compensation.  All  questions  of 
eligibility  are  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee of  three  conference  members 


University  of  Utah 

who  make  recommendations  to  the 
institutions  involved.  During  the 
past  10  years  125  decisions  have 
been  recorded.  Many  questions 
are  settled  without  committee  ac- 
tion. Where  literal  enforcement 
works  a  clear  injustice  an  appeal  to 
the  conference  may  be  made.  This 
is  known  as  the  "manifest  hard- 
ship" rule. 

Another  group  of  rules  deal  with 
(Continued  on  page  382) 


ADMimSTRATlON  BUILDINGS  OF  UNIVERSITIES  AND  COLLEGES  BELONGING  TO  R.  M.  F.  A.  C. 

Top  row,  left  to  right:     Colorado  School  of  Mines,  Colorado  Teachers  College,  Colorado  A.  C. 

Center:     Montana  State  College,  Wyoming  University. 

Bottom  row,  left  to  right:     Colorado  College,  Colorado  University,  Western  State  College. 


34S 


■"•"%., 


IXTEEN 


too    ^  •'^atf     «o».  *»ooti'  .°«o.  ^^«* 


'^^^.T 


«ee  J 


My  Birthday  Comes 

JT'S  sweet,  now  that  I'm  this  old. 

I  can  do  my  hair  up  when  it  grows  longer. 
I  can  buy  some  pink  fingernail  polish. 
And  go  to  dances  in  long  dresses. 

I  can  have  high  heels  and  bright  buckles. 

In  my  heart  I  can  call  David  my  Beau, 
Though  now  he's  just  the  boy  next  door. 

How  happy  and  surprising,  how  sweet 
Everything  is — now  that  I'm  this  old. 


% 


^V 


Idea  of  Ambition 

nnHERE  is  in  me  something 
•^  That  tugs  and  pushes.*  *  * 

I  want  to  go  very  far  away. 
And  get  very  rich  and  famous. 
And  be  kind  to  people, 
And  have  people  love  me 
And  think  I  am  beautiful. 

I  can't  sleep  when  there's  a  moon. 
I  stand  by  the  window  and  dream 

There  is  In  nic  something 
That  tugs  and  pushes.  *  *  * 


mice 


^UNICE  died  last  night. 

She  was  a  Senior,  and  tall, 
And  seventeen.    She  debated 
And  wrote  poetry  sometimes. 

She  had  a  lot  of  things: 

A  notebook  with  all  our  names  scrawled 

Every  which  way,  and  an  agate  ring, 

And  many  linen  collars  and  cuflFs. 

I  remember  her  scarf  with  the  red  dots 

And  her  dark  blue  coat  and  tarn. 

I  remember  the  way  she  laughed 
And  how  smooth  her  hair  was. 

I  didn't  think  she  could  die. 


Party 

HTHE  girls  talk  all  day  about  the  party. 
They  talk  warmly  about  their  dresses. 
"What  are  you  going  to  wear?"  they  say 
To  me.  "What  are  you  going  to  wear?" 

"My  green,"  I  say.    "Oh,  my  green  dress," 

Carelessly. 

I  bought  it  yesterday. 

I  never  had  a  Formal  before. 

I'm  so  happy  I  could  cry  easy  as  laughing. 
It's  sewed  all  over  with  little  petals,  my  dress. 
And  my  slippers  pose  and  tilt  and  twinkle. 


349 


Decorations  by^-^ 
C.  NELSON  WHITE 


And  Now 

J  THINK  I'd  like  to  be  an  actress, 

A  sweet  tall  blonde  one  with  a  wide  mouth 

I  think  I'd  like  to  be  a  dancer. 

Bright,  gold-slippered,  loved  by  a  Prince. 

I  think  I'd  like  to  write  a  book. 

Brilliant,  tender,  thatpeople  would  cry  over. 

I  think  I'd  like  to  be 'John's  mother. 
He  is  all  over  pink  and  his  eyelashes 
Curl  and  touch  his  silky  eyebrows. 
Hisjnouth  is  queer  and  soft. 

He  hugged  me  today  with  his  small  arms   jl 
And  cried -against  my  throat.  -^ 


°f|f|gj|c^ 


Orientation  Process 

/fi^^y^    T  ^EPT  today  because  Life  was  futile. 
And  strange  and  disappointing. 

I  wept  because  I  have  freckles, 

And  because  an  actor  that  I  love  has  died. 

,        I  wept  because  nobody  understands  me, 
/  _     Or  loves  me,  or  realizes  about  me. 

But  in  the  afternoon  I  walked  with  David 
And  in  the  nice  sun  felt  kind  and  lovely. 
'< 

'—/'    We  had  a  chocolate  malt  together. 

And  in  the  cool  drug  store  we  talked  a  long  time. 

The  world  is  beautiful. 
It  puzzles  me. 


^/ 


Episode 


/<^ 


ii 


A 


U 


T  SIT  in  the  shadows  and  stare 

At  the  good  Librarian.    She  is  old  and  thin 
And  her  glasses  tilt.    Her  hair  goes  wispy 
And  her  neck  looks  very  soft  and  loose. 

I  feel  as'  if,  suddenly,  I  could  weep  for  her. 

I  feel  as  if  she  needs  me  to  Weep  for  what  is  gone. 

Outside  th^re  is  a  sky  all  amazingly  gilt 

And  a  bright-curled  girl  blows  by  in  a  blue  dress. 


'0» 


m 


^^,i 


Crush 

^HE  Latin  teacher  is  beautiful  and  sweet. 
He  wears  glasses  and  has  white  teeth. 

I  put  the  lace  collar  on  my  red  dress 

This  morning,  and  combed  my  hair  a  new  way. 

I  think  it  looks  like  Norma  Shearer. 

I  think  he'll  look  at  me  some  morning  soon. 
And  I'll  look  back,  and  look,  and  smile. 
And  he'll  see  how  important,  how  nice,  I  am. 
He  will  say,  "This — why,  this  is  my  soul  mate!' 


\    ©'© 


People  Go  Talking 

^N  old  man  sat  in  the  sun  and  rocked. 

His  eyes  smiling  and  blinking.     He  told  me 
I  could  get  anything  at  all — by  waiting. 

Once  there  was  a  lecturer  at  school. 
He  stopped,  me  on  the  stairs  and  said, 
"Be  surprised  forever  at  things. 
Then  you'll  be  always  young." 

Mrs.  Carroll,  across  the  street,  leaned 
And  looked  at  her  big-eyed  Baby  John.. 
vShe  said  Love  was  the  dearest  thing  in  life. 

The  girl  with  chrysanthemum-colored  hair, 
Working  down  at  the  drug  store,  said  not 
To  live  with  what  is  finished  and  done. 

Once  David,  in  a  queer  mood  by  the  lilacs. 
Told  me  I  had  a  pretty  nose. 
Told  me  be  loved  my  hair.  *  *  * 


Scatter-Brained 

J  STAND  and  look  at  Miss  Baum. 

She  teaches  History.    Her  eyes. 
Behind  glass,  have  near  tears; 

She  is  cross  because  my  notebook 
Isn't  in  today,  nor  was  yesterday. 

I  look  at  her  and  think,  "Did  anyone 
Ever  love  you  a  great  deal?    Have  you 
Cried  yourself  to  sleep  over  anyone,  ever.'" 
And,  "Do  you  have  a  dress  with  little  petals? 
Do  you  go  singing  inside  yourself?" 

'  She  says,  "I  don  t  know  what's  come  over  you. 
Can't  you  keep  your  mind  on  anything?  " 


350 


Qhristmas  Trees  ^live  at 
Our  T)oors 


A  little  early  to  be  talking  about  Christmas 
trees?    Head  the  article  and  see. 


By  J.  H.  PAUL 


SHALL  we  not  halt  the  muti- 
lation of  Western  Forests  and 
rtijake  beautiful  our  parks, 
lanes,  and  gardens?  This  project 
for  scout  leaders,  and  all  citizens, 
would  put  a  stop  to  the  enormous 
destruction  at  Christmas  time  of 
the  evergreen  trees  in  Western  for- 
ests. Endless  trainloads  of  young 
conifers,  each  averaging  30  years  in 
growth,  roll  into  market  every  De- 
cember for  use  as  Christmas  trees. 
The  waste  is  monumental.  Sup- 
posing that  ten  million  trees  are 
thus  cut  each  year,  we  have  a  total  of 
ten  million  times  thirty  years  or  300 
million  years  of  growth  sacrificed 
— that  much  of  the  labor  of  nature 
annually  "slaughtered  to  make  a 
Roman  holiday,"  ^as  Byron  puts 
it;  but  not  so,  for  the  Romans 
perpetrated  no  such  prodigal  waste 
of  potential  wealth  as  we  permit; 
they  didn't  have  it  to  throw  away. 
Shall  we  not  preserve  these  free 
gifts  of  the  bounty  of  nature,  many 
of  them  irreplaceable  after  even 
thirty  years  of  waiting  for  them 
to  grow  again  after  replanting? 
Wantonly  wasted  by  a  thoughtless 
public,  though  in  a  most  worthy 
cause — the  cause  of  Christmas  cheer 
— shall  we  never  succeed  in  making 
an  end  of  this  supreme  folly? 

In  all  canyons  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  the  cutting  of  native 
evergreens  for  Christmas  trees 
should  be  prohibited  by  law  and 
discountenanced  by  public  senti- 
ment. These  continuous  yearly 
raids  for  millions  of  trees  from  our 
Western  forests  will  yet  be  our 
undoing.  We  have  no  coniferous 
trees  to  spare.  We  need  them  all 
in  their  place  on  the  mountains. 
Only  as  Western  forest  trees  are 
replaced  by  systematic  re-planting, 
should  any  of  the  immature  trees 
ever  be  cut  down.  Nor  should  they 
in  any  way  be  injured  by  needless 
and  preventable  practices. 

Christmas  trees  should  be  ob- 
tained from  nurseries  only,  where 
they  are  grown  for  this  purpose,  as 
in  Oregon,  and  people  of  the  Rocky 


Eternal  Christtiias  Trees 

Mountain  states  should  plant  and 
rear  as  many  native  evergreens  as 
possible,  both  to  beautify  parks 
and  private  grounds,  to  make 
screens  for  out-buildings,  wind- 
breaks about  cattle  and  sheep  en- 
closures, and  to  serve  as  Christmas 
trees  for  the  market  when  they  re- 
quire to  be  thinned  out. 

npHE  conifers  are  marvelous  for 
midwinter  decoration.  These 
cone-bearers,  green  foliaged  in  win- 
ter, impart  a  background  of  beauty 
to  any  landscape,  especially  to  a 
landscape  of  ice  and  snow.  Yet 
some  kinds  are  more  attractive  than 
others;  and  it  is  to  call  attention  to 
these  that  this  article  is  written. 

To  the  writer's  taste,  the  finest 
of  all  our  local  evergreens  for 
Christmas-time  decoration  is  the 
white  fir  (the  "black  balsam"  of 
early  days) ,  Abies  concolor  of  the 
books.  It  is  a  noble  species,  with 
broad  base  and  tall  top,  tapering 
and  sharp-pointed  while  young. 
Its  needles,  long  and  more  or  less 
silvery,  not  very  sharp  but  rather 
blunt  and  soft,  are  close  together  in 
feathery     plumes  —  altogether     a 


thing  of  beauty.  Its  cones,  about 
the  size  of  a  large  man's  fist,  are 
apple  green  in  color,  rarely  borne, 
and  occurring  in  small  erect  clusters 
at  the  very  tip  of  the  pointed  spire 
in  which  the  tree  culminates. 

The  strength,  the  grace,  the  sil- 
very hue,  make  this  species  striking 
and  elegant.  As  a  Christmas  tree 
it  has  the  further  advantage  of 
holding  its  leaves  long  after  being 
brought  into  use  for  decorative 
purposes.  But  my  thought  is  that 
it  should  rarely  be  cut  down  and 
placed  inside  the  house,  but  should 
be  planted  in  the  garden  in  little 
clumps  where  it  will  not  obstruct 
the  view  from  and  to  (the  windows. 
Decorated  as  it  stands  alive  in  the 
open,  it  would  be  an  object  of  in- 
describable beauty,  typical  of  last- 
ing life  rather  than  of  the  wither- 
ing and  decay  that  trees  cut  down 
signify  all  too  soon. 

This  tree,  the  writer  has  long 
since  ventured  to  maintain,  should 
be  cultivated  in  gardens  and  parks, 
and  used  to  elevate  the  taste  of  tree 
lovers,  besides  being  suitably  dec- 
orated as  a  symbol  of  the  life 
eternal  during  Christmas  celebra- 
tions. Only  a  few  specimens,  it 
seems,  have  ever  been  grown  in  the 
valleys  of  Utah;  but  wherever 
grown,  they  look  rich  and  ornate, 
with  a  fulness  of  life  and  beauty 
that  distinguish  this  glorious  tree 
from  all  its  noble  kindred  in  West- 
ern forests.  Far  south,  the  yellow 
pine,  majestic  and  bright  green, 
with  its  long  needles  imparting  a 
fox-tail  aspect  to  the  branches  of 
younger  trees,  should  become  the 
living  Christmas  tree  of  the  south- 
ern counties,  as  the  white  fir  should 
be  in  the  northern  belt. 

'\X7'ILL  they  grow  in  cultivation? 
The  yellow  pine  is  of  easy 
growth  in  garden  culture.  The 
white  fir  has  been  so  little  tried  that 
its  adaptability  to  general  valley 
culture  is  not  yet  established. 
Nevertheless,  foresters  with  whom 
the  writer  has  consulted  agree  that 
(Continued  on  page  381) 


351 


l^kws 


"There  is  then  creative  reading  as  well  as  creative  writing.  When  the  mind  is  braced  by 
labor  and  invention  the  page  of  whatever  book  we  read  becomes  luminous  with  manifold 
allusions.  Every  sentence  is  doubly  significant,  and  the  sense  of  our  author  is  as  broad  as  the 
world.  We  then  see,  what  is  always  true,  that  as  the  seer's  hour  is  short  and  rare  among  heavy 
days  and  months,  so  is  its  record,  perchance,  the  least  part  of  his  volume." — Emerson. 


"The  Truth  of  Christianity'' 

By  LT.-COL.  W.   H.   TRUXTON, 
D.  S.  O. 

Late  Royal  Engineers 

(Wells  Gardmer,  Datton  ^  Co.,  Ltd., 
Paternoster  Buildings,  E.  C.  4.,  Lon- 
don, England) 

HERE  is  a  book  that  many  peo- 
ple interested  in  convincing 
arguments  with  which  to 
bolster  their  faith  will  wel- 
come. Colonel  Truxton  has  a  logical 
mind  and  has  lined  up  his  arguments 
in  marching  formation,  one  sup- 
porting the  other  admirably. 

The  Colonel  is  not  content  with  de- 
bating the  truth  of  Christianity,  but 
goes  back  to  natural  religion  in  order 
to  establish,  without  doubt,  a  God  in 
the  heavens.  After  that  he  argues  that 
God  might  make  some  revelations  to 
man  and  that,  indeed,  it  is  entirely 
credible  that  God  would  use  miraculous 
revelations. 

From  that  point  the  author  takes 
up  the  Jewish  religion  and  presents 
logical  arguments  which,  to  him,  prove 
that  the  Jewish  religion  as  found  in 
the  Old  Testament  is  not  only  credible, 
but  really  convincing. 

From  the  Jewish  religion  the  author 
passes  to  Christianity.  He  examines 
the  evidence  which  supports  the  claims 
of  Jesus  and  his  followers,  including 
the  examination  of  the  Four  Gospels. 
He  arrives  at  the  conclusion  that  the 
character  of  Christ  confirms  the  truth 
of  Christianity;  that  the  history  of 
Christianity  confirms  its  truth;  and  that 
the  truth  of  Christianity  is  extremely 
probable. 

On  the  whole,  the  argument  set  forth 
in  the  book  is  most  interesting  and 
convincing.  The  Latter-day  Saint 
will  not  agree  with  some  of  the  Colo- 
nel's conclusions,  but  he  will  heartily 
endorse  much  of  what  is  found  in  the 
book. 

A  letter  from  Dr.  John  A,  Widtsoc, 
President  of  the  European  Mission,  to 
Colonel  Truxton  says  this  of  the  vol- 
ume: "Your  book.  The  Truth  of 
Christianity,  is  a  splendid  presentation 
of  the  evidences  for  Christianity,  clear- 
ly and  forcefully  written.  You  have 
had  unusual  success,  while  developing 
your    argument    for    Christianity    in 


avoiding  secondary,  controversial  mat- 
ters. I  have  recommended  the  book 
freely  to  my  fellow-believers.  You  are 
at  full  liberty  to  use  this  letter  as  you 
may  desire. 

With  the  best  of  wishes, 
Sincerely, 
John  A.  Widtsoe. 

Mission  President." 

Games  and  Game  Leadership 

By  CHARLES  F.  SMITH 

(Dodd,  Mead  and  Co.,  New  York) 

/^F  particular  interest  to  recreation 
^^  leaders  is  a  new  six  hundred  and 
fifty  page  book  of  games  and  leader- 
ship now  off  the  press.  Compiled  by 
a  man  whose  experience  and  ability  in 
these  fields  is  well  known,  it  contains 
the  fundamental  information  in  lead- 
ership and  new,  delightful  suggestions 
and  details  in  play  ways.  The  first 
chapter  is  on  leadership  of  games  and 
recreations,  and  under  such  headings 
as  ''Be  Enthusiastic,"  "Overlook  Mis- 
takes," "An'llacipate  Blunders,"  "Be 
Lenient,"  "Develop  Confidence 
Through  Preparedness,"  "Lead  Just 
Enough,"  "Expect  The  Best,"  Disci- 
pline Positively,"  "Know  Your  Peo- 
ple," etc.,  he  gives  in  terse,  crisp  style, 
the  basic  qualifications  of  a  good  leader 
in  a  manner  to  inspire  such  leadership. 
Following  this,  several  chapters  are  de- 
voted to  games  for  children- — home, 
school,  outdoor,  gymnasium,  and  men- 
tal recreation  for  schools,  camps  and 
clubs. 

Chapter  14  goes  again  into  leader- 
ship principles,  this  time  for  social  rec- 
reation. Stunts,  party  games,  social 
mixers,  musical  games,  dances,  relays, 
paper  and  pencil  games,  fun  games,  in- 
formal dramatics  and  stunts  for  parties, 
clubs  and  camps,  are  the  subjects  con- 
sidered next.  Chapter  23  takes  the 
reader  into  picnic  and  other  outdoor 
forms  of  play,  treasure  hunts,  woodsy 
activities,  fire-building  and  cooking, 
Scout  and  club  activities  being  the  con- 
cluding part.  Needless  to  say,  leaders 
of  all  departments  in  the  M.  I.  A.  will 
find  immeasurable  help  in  the  pages  of 
this  volume.  It  will  cause  a  little 
happy  pride  to  know  that  considerable 
material  on  Home  Recreation,  Dancing, 
and  Parties  is  quoted  from  the  liter- 
ature of  the  M.  I.  A.     A  number  of 


other  reference  books  are  given,  also. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  in  detail 
many  of  the  games  and  plays  suggested, 
but  one,  a  word-building  game,  chal- 
lenged the  interest  of  the  reviewer  and 
several  other  people,  who  devoted  much 
time  to  the  playing  of  it,  which  should 
have  been  devoted  to  other  things.  It 
is  a  chain  of  words,  made  by  changing 
one  letter  of  the  preceding  word  in  the 
following  word,  and  this  going  from 
one  thing  to  another.  For  example: 
from  Rain  to  Hail  is  accomplished  by 
changing  the  n  in  rain  to  /,  making 
Rail;  the  r  in  rail  is  changed  to  h,  mak- 
ing hail.  From  Boy  to  Man  goes:  Boy, 
Bay,  May,  Man.  Notice  that  the  letter 
which  is  changed  must  hold  the  exact 
position  of  the  one  above. 

Other  suggested  chains  are:  from  Cot 
to  Bed;  from  Soup  to  Nuts;  from 
Flour  to  Bread;  from  Brown  to  Bread; 
from  Black  to  White;  from  Wet  to 
Dry;  from  Eye  to  Lid;  from  Sad  to 
Fun;  from  Pig  to  Sty;  Pen  to  Ink; 
Poor  to  Rich;  Tears  to  Smile;  Wheat 
to  Bread;  Bread  to  Toast;  Tree  to 
Wood;  Elm  to  Oak;  Call  to  Help;  Eye 
to  Era;  Fat  to  Pig;  Joy  to  Woe;  Mole 
to  Hill;  Seed  to  Bean;  Ring  to  Hand; 
Ham  to  Fry;  Wash  to  Line;  Head  to 
Tail;  Hock  to  Shop;  Kiss  to  Girl;  Mail 
to  Home;  Wind  to  Gale.  It  is  suggest- 
ed that  if  any  member  of  a  group  does 
this  too  fast,  put  him  on  "Right  to 
Wrong,"  which  cannot  be  done — that 
is,  in  word-building.  Black  to  White 
requires  seven  intermediate  words, 
thus:  black,  clack,  crack,  track,  trace, 
trice,  trite,  write,  white.  The  game  is 
great  fun,  especially  for  a  literary 
group  or  a  vocabulary-building  class. 

The  book  sells  for  $2.50. 

Books  Others  Have 
Recommended 

Y)R.  N.  A.  PEDERSEN.  dean  of  the 
School  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  Utah 
State  Agricultural  College,  says:  "The 
best  book  I  have  read  for  many  a  day 
is  Abbe  Dimnet's  'What  We  Live  By.' 
It  shows  clearly  what  is  worth  while  in 
life." 

"Climbing  Manward,"  by  F.  H. 
Cheley,  is  highly  recommended  by 
Scout  Executive  Russell  Scott,  of  Twin 
Falls,  Idaho. 

What  good  book  have  you  read  re- 
cently? 


352 


Lmi^^uil 


We/come,  April 

/JPRIL  is  more  than  the  first  month  of  spring 
to  the  Latter-day  Saint — it  is  the  month  of 
the  birth  of  Christ,  the  Lord,  as  well  as  of  the 
organization  of  the  Church.  It,  in  all  probabil- 
ity, is  also  the  month  of  the  resurrection. 

How  appropriate  and  how  welcome  were  all 
of  those  events!  April,  the  month  of  new  life, 
when  all  things  are  made  over,  when  the  old  de- 
cayed things — the  things  of  corruption — have 
been  laid  aside  or  have  become  food  out  of  which 
new  life  springs,  is  the  month  of  hope. 

Jesus  found  a  world  pinned  to  the  soil  by 
superstition  and  fear  and  the  mismanagement  of 
man.  He  swept  away  superstition;  he  did  his 
best  to  instill  in  his  followers  a  faith  that  would 
conquer  fear;  and  he  struck  at  the  mismanagement 
of  mian.  Then  he  departed  leaving  men  to  build 
upon  His  foundation. 

Men  struggled,  in  some  cases  nobly.  The  faith 
of  which  Jesus  spoke  worked  miracles  in  lives. 
Men  were  able  to  endure  ignominy  and  painful 
death  for  ideals.  But  selfishness  still  remained, 
therefore,  Christ  came  again,  a  new  witness,  this 
time  accompanied  by  the  Father,  to  start  man  out 
once  more,  imbued  with  a  new  and  conquering 
faith.  His  Church  was  organized.  Men  went 
out  with  new  zeal  proclaiming  the  old  truths  of 
the  Gospels  and  the  epistles  now  clothed  in  new 
light. 

And  so — welcome  fair  Spring!  As  the  sap 
drawn  up  by  the  sun  will  conquer  apparent  death 
in  trees  and  shrubs  and  flowers,  the  power  of  ever 
recurring  faith  will  conquer  the  grave,  and  many 
of  our  dead  hopes  will  rise  again  to  walk  forth 
in  newness  of  life  this  April. 

Apostle  Reed  Smoot 

Jp^OR  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  Elder 
Reed  Smoot,  of  the  quorum  of  the  Twelve 
Apostles,  has  been  a  member  of  the  senate  of  the 
United  States.  During  that  period  he  has  become 
known  wherever  civilized  men  meet  and  converse. 
In  fact,  his  name  has  come  to  represent  devotion 
to  duty  as  he  saw  it,  and  to  unceasing  effort  to 
change  the  world  to  harmonize  with  his  ideas. 
For  those  characteristics  he  has  been  honored 
everywhere  and  his  name  has  been  a  power  in  the 
world. 

With  this  conference  Elder  Smoot  returns  to 
his  people  to  give  his  life  and  his  great  powers  to 
the  welfare  of  the  Church  for  which  he  has  stood 
in  season  and  out  of  season.  Never,  even  when 
his  connection  with  the  Church  seemed  to  mitigate 
against  his  success,  has  he  attempted  in  any  way 
to  excuse  himself  publicly  or  privately  for  being 
a  follower  of  the  lowly  Jesus  and  a  believer  in 
the  mission  of  the  unpopular  Joseph  Smith.  His 
fearless  stand  has  done  much  to  allay  prejudice 
against  the  Church  and  to  bring  it  recognition 
as  a  power  for  good  among  men. 

Now  that  his  time  will  not  be  divided,  between 


the  Church  and  the  Nation,  both  dear  to  his  heart. 
Elder  Smoot  will  undoubtedly  be  able  to  assist 
very  materially  in  furthering  the  progress  of  his 
organization.  His  acquaintance  with  national 
and  international  affairs,  his  knowledge  of  the 
workings  of  political  bodies,  his  understanding 
of  the  needs  of  humanity  will  all  be  of  use  in 
the  Councils  of  the  Church. 

Though  we  have  no  way  of  knowing  just  how 
Elder  Smoot's  talents  will  be  put  to  work,  we 
feel  certain  that  they  will  be  used  in  a  manner 
which  will  be  pleasing  to  his  people  and  to  his 
brethren,  the  other  authorities  of  the  Church. 

To  Senator  Smoot  this  conference  will,  indeed, 
be  a  home-coming.  He  will  feel  a  welcome  on 
every  side;  will  be  proud  once  more  to  take  up 
his  labors  for  the  Church,  knowing  that  he  can 
give  his  undivided  attention  to  them. 

Thirty  years  ago  he  went  away  in  honor  to 
represent  his  state  at  the  nation's  capital  when 
his  people  were  unpopular;  now  he  returns  with 
honor  after  honor  heaped  upon  his  head  and 
with  the  full  knowledge  that  he  has  been  true 
to  his  state  and  his  people  as  well  as  to  his  nation, 
and  with  the  added  knowledge  that  he  has  been 
instrumental  in  giving  his  Church  a  hearing  be- 
fore the  mighty. 

Be  Not  Deceived 

TOURING  these  times  many  schemes  are  being 
concocted  to  separate  those  with  a  little  hard- 
earned  savings  from  their  property  and  cash. 
Many  men  and  women  instead  of  living  the 
Christian  law  have  gone  back  to  that  which 
maintained  ip  primitive  times — the  Survival  of 
the  Fittest.  To  them  the  Fittest  are  those  who 
are  strong  enough  or  crafty  enough  to  obtain  that 
which  they  desire  regardless  of  the  heart-breaks 
or  suffering  which  might  ensue. 

Some  of  these  people  masquerade  as  spiritually- 
minded  persons  with  the  welfare  of  their  brothers 
and  sisters  and  of  the  Church  at  heart.  Even 
the  dead  are  not  spared  by  them,  as  frequently 
they  declare  they  have  received  manifestations  that 
if  certain  people  will  put  money  at  their  disposal 
that  work  for  the  dead  will  be  furthered. 

Often,  stocks  of  concerns,  and  especially  of 
mines,  are  sold  with  the  statement  that  money 
which  is  certain  to  accrue  from  the  investments 
is  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  the  Church.  These 
people  frequently  declare  that  they  have  been 
shown  the  rich  veins  in  vision. 

Here  are  some  paragraphs  taken  from  a  letter 
from  one  "sister"  to  another.  The  writer  of  the 
letter  was  financially  interested  in  the  sale  of 
stock: 

"Three  very  faithful  men  of  mining  experience  were  told 
by  the  Spirit  to  go  out  to  the  mine  and  help  bring  it  forth. 
One  was  shown  the  hill  previously  in  a  dream,  and  a,  regi- 
ment of  Nephite  soldiers  who  were  guarding  the  mine  and 
were  anxiously  Waiting  for  the  time  when  those  who  were 
worthy  would  come  to  take  out  the  treasure  hidden  there. 

"When  they  arrived  at  the  mine  the  men  there  had  be- 
come discouraged,  but  after  fasting  and  prayer  were  plainly 
told  to   go  back  some  distance  and  follow  a  vein.      After 


^^VjiF^mi- 


353 


continued  supplication  a  Nephite,  who  had  sealed  the  mine 
when  his  people  had  become  wicked  previous  to  their  com- 
plete destruction,  came  and  pointed  the  way.  After  going 
eight  feet  in  the  direction  he  pointed  they  came  into  the 
main  vein.  .  .  . 

"We  have  not  come  into  an  ore  body  yet  but  we  will  as 
soon  as  we  are  prepared.  This  had  been  definitely  shown 
to  us.  It  is  very  near  and  one  of  our  men  said  he  was  told 
that  the  Nephite  who  sealed  the  treasures  is  waiting  to 
unlock  the  treasure  house  as  soon  as  we  are  ready  to  receive 
it.  About  thirty  of  us  are  fasting  today  and  will  meet  to- 
night with  our  men  from  the  mine  who  tell  us  they  have 
much  to  tell  us  that  is  very  sacred  that  has  been  given  to 
them  in  the  past  six  weeks.  They  went  out  about  the 
middle  of  February  and  have  received  wonderful  manifesta- 
tions on  that  sacred  hill.  ..." 

If  Space  would  permit  the  whole  of  the  letter 
would  make  most  interesting  reading. 

A  few  excerpts  must  be  given,  however,  as  they 
are  typical  of  much  that  is  being  circulated. 

"You  see,  after  the  stock  has  been  dedicated  to  the  Lord 
it  becomes  sacred  and  cannot  be  speculated  with  and  used 
for  ordinary  commercial  purposes. 

"A  complete  stewardship  can  be  purchased  for  $1,000.00 
if  purchased  soon  before  the  ore  body  is  reached,  after  that 
there  will  be  but  little  for  sale.  ..." 

"Now,  sister  dear,  I  pray  that  you  might  feel  the  spirit 
of  this  work  and  that  your  way  will  open  up  to  partici- 
pate fully  with  us  and  be  able  to  accomplish  all  the  good 
that  is  in  your  big  generous  heart  and  the  work  you  desire 
to  accomplish  will  continue  throughout  the  ages."  She 
goes  on — ■"!  have  dedicated  two  hundred  thousand  shares 
for  the  redemption  of  the  seed  of  Lehi  .  .  ."  And  then, 
sad  news  .  .  .  "You  have  received  notice  of  the  one  half 
cent  assessment.  This  was  made  necessary  because  so  many 
lost  faith  and  did  not  pay  their  last  assessment." 

But  there  is  a  postscript  to  the  letter:  "Tell  only  those 
whom  you  are  impressed  will  understand." 

These  people  who  advance  these  schemes  are  so 
apparently  sincere  and  in  some  cases  are  so  sincere 
in  their  approach  that  sometimes  they  deceive 
intelligent  people. 

Years  ago  the  First  Presidency  of  the  Church 
said: 

"We  feel  it  our  duty  to  warn  the  Latter-day  Saints 
against  fake  mining  schemes  which  have  no  warrant  for 
success  beyond  the  professed  spiritual  manifestations  of 
their  projectors  and  the  influence  gained  over  the  excited 
minds  of  their  victims.  We  caution  the  saints  against 
investing  money  or  property  in  shares  of  stock  which  bring 
no  profit  to  any  one  but  those  who  issue  and  trade  in 
them.  ..." 

"Fanciful  schemes  to  make  money  for  the  alleged  pur- 
pose of  'redeeming  Zion'  or  providing  means  for  the  'Sal- 
vation of  the  dead'  or  other  seeming  worthy  objects,  should 
not  deceive  anyone  acquainted  with  the  order  of  the  Church, 
and  will  result  only  in  waste  of  time  and  labor,  which 
might  be  devoted  now  to  doing  something  tangible  and 
worthy  of  record  on  earth  and  in  heaven. 

"Be  not  led  by  any  spirit  or  influence  that  discredits 
established  authority,  contradicts  true  scientific  principles 
and  discoveries,  or  leads  away  from  the  direct  revelations  of 
God  for  the  government  of  the  Church."         . 

These  paragraphs  were  taken  from  a  statement 
issued  and  signed  by  the  First  Presidency  then 
composed  of  Joseph  F.  Smith,  Anthon  H.  Lund, 
and  Charles  W.  Penrose.  The  present  First  Pres- 
idency of  the  Church  has  reaffirmed  tHat  stand  on 
the  matter.  , 

A  safe  rule  to  follow  would  be  to  h^ve  nothing 
to  do  with  schemes  that  are  presented  with  an  air 


of  mystery,  and  promising  great  things  to  the 
Church,  for  against  all  such  the  people  have  been 
repeatedly  warned  by  their  spiritual  leaders. 

~H.  R.  M. 

June  Conference  Challenges 

'J^HE  coming  of  April  makes  one  think  of  grassy 
lanes,  apple  blossoms,  and — June  Conference! 
And  June  Conference  makes  one  think  of  culmi- 
nating programs, — of  eight  thousand  amateur  ac- 
tors, twenty  thousand  dancers,  two  thousand  pub- 
lic speakers — ^finalists  for  wards — as  many  re-told 
story  tellers,  scores  of  archers.  Boy  Scouts,  Junior 
Girls,  Gleaner  Girls,  M  Men,  Vanguards,  Seniors 
and  Adults. 

What  a  program  it  is  that  will  mobilize  tens 
of  thousands  of  people  from  the  age  of  twelve  to 
the  four  score  mark !  Throughout  the  world  dur- 
ing these  spring  weeks  young  people  and  old  are 
finishing  up  their  winter  programs.  They  have 
had  Gold  and  Green  Balls,  dramas,  archery  con- 
tests, debates,  socials,  class  work,  projects,  in  a 
rnighty  effort  to  enrich  life,  to  use  leisure  construc- 
tively, and  to  be  of  use  to  fellow  men. 

In  June  all  of  the  various  groups  will  assemble 
in  Salt  Lake  City  to  participate  in  one  grand  finale, 
a  magnificent  Commencement.  To  many  a  young 
person  that  June  Conference  is  worth  a  year  of 
sacrifice.  The  inspirational  meetings,  the  thrilling 
contests,  the  unusual  social  opportunity,  the  mag- 
nificent weather,  the  matchless  City  of  the  Saints 
and  the  Salten  Sea — everything  offers  attractions 
in  June. 

Two  months  now,  and  then  the  finals.  The 
best  brains  of  the  Church,  the  most  fluent  tongues, 
the  most  graceful  bodies  will  be  pitted  against 
one  another  in  a  fine,  friendly  competition  for 
honors.  The  flower  of  the  Church  will  be  pres- 
ent to  hear  the  story  of  the  Gospel  repeated  and  to 
carry  away  new  ideas  for  another  year  of  worth- 
while struggle  toward  higher  levels  of  living. 

June  Conference  Challenges! 


To  the  Legislators 


I 


F  tobacco  is  injurious,  and  it  is;  if  tobacco  adds 
a  dangerous  fire  hazard  to  our  arid  country, 
and  it  does;  if  tobacco  is  "smelly"  and  disagree- 
able, and  it  is;  if  tobacco  is  especially  injurious  to 
growing  and  impressionable  young  people,  and 
it  is;  if  tobacco  makes  for  unsightly  litter  in  pub- 
lic and  private  places,  and  it  does;  if  tobacco  is 
expensive,  and  it  is;  if  tobacco  adds  to  burdens  of 
the  human  race,  and  it  does;  then,  why  should 
any  legislator  vote  to  have  it  flaunted  in  lying 
colors  before  the  eyes  of  children  and  adults  alike? 
Every  legislator  from  every  county  in  the  state 
should  be  asked  by  his  constituents  to  say  how  he 
voted  and  if  he  voted  for  repeal  of  the  law 
prohibiting  tobacco  advertising  on  billboards, 
why  he  voted  as  he  did. 


354 


H.W. 


(Silver  cQnings 

Tricky  Mr.  Debit  and  Stingy  Mr.  Credit 


By  CLAIRE  W.  NOALL 


HAVE  you  ever  been  on  the 
toboggan  of  Spendthrift 

Hill,  sliding  swiftly 
down,  gay,  thoughtless,  and  free 
from  care?  Have  you  known 
what  it  means  to  toil  up  Inch-by- 
I  n  c  h  Mountain,  parsimonious, 
care-worn,  and  full  of  fears?  Per- 
haps you  have  had  both  experi- 
ences. No  matter!  Though  the 
past  may  have  held  plenty  of 
money  or  too  little,  too  many  in- 
stallments to  meet,  or  savings  that 
went  down  to  destruction  in  stocks, 
bonds,  and  banks,  we  are  all  facing 
new  economic  conditions  now. 
Whether  our  earnings  be  large  or 
small,  or  we  are  receiving  relief  as- 
sistance, there  is  a  tool  which  will 
help  everyone  to  solve  his  financial 
problems,  and  make  the  most  of 
what  income  he  has — the  budget. 

The  chief  purpose  of  this  tool  is 
to  give  you  exact  information  as  to 
your  income  and  expenditures  and 
to  enable  you  to  use  your  money 
to  the  greatest  possible  advantage. 
By  keeping  careful  accounts  you 
can  estimate  accurately  just  how  to 
make  the  most  efficient  use  of  your 
resources  and  thus  wisely  appor- 
tion your  distribution  for  neces- 
sities, luxuries,  and  savings.  With 
credit  and  debit  chanting  a  duet  on 
the  low-ebbing  tide  of  finance,  how 


is  one  to  live  in  a  world  where 
money  is  the  basis  of  exchange? 
The  illusion  of  the  rich  Joneses, 
your  opulent  selves,  your  wealthy 
neighbors  to  the  left,  and  all  the 
easy  plenty  of  the  past,  has  van- 
ished along  with  the  balance  in 
the  bank,  for  a  time  at  least.  But 
knowing  how  to  use  what  money 
you  have  will  make  the  difference 
between  a  happy  and  a  miserable 
existence.  For  money,  or  the  lack 
of  it,  will  master  you  if  you  don't 
gain  the  upper  hand  of  it.  No 
matter  what  the  income,  there  is 
a  way  of  living  on  it  if  one  has 
the  courage  and  the  stamina.  Hard 
times  do  not  support  palaces,  but 
budgets  can  keep  one  out  of  bank- 
ruptcy and  the  debtor's  prison. 

In  this  period  of  post-prosperity 
false  pride  must  hide  its  face  with 
lost  credit.  Time-honored  qual- 
ities such  as  sincerity,  self-suffi- 
ciency, unadulterated  genuineness, 
and  old  fashioned  simplicity  must 
be  relied  upon  to  give  a  feeling  of 
security  and  self-respect.  The  tin- 
sel and  baubles  by  which  people 
have  been  wont  to  set  their  stan- 
dards are  now  as  passe  as  the  in- 
stallment plan  for  buying  unneces- 
sary luxuries. 

Moreover,  order  in  financial  af- 
fairs facilitates  domestic  peace  and 
happiness.        Intelligent     use     of 


money  is  one  of  the  first  essentials 
to  good  home-making.  One  of 
Reno's  sad  disclosures  is,  that  about 
one-half  of  ,all  unhappy  marriages 
crash  on  the  rcKks  of  financial  de- 
spair. Apparently  many  people 
do  not  face  facts  in  their  spending. 
Seemingly  oblivious  that  one  dol- 
lar won't  buy  la  dollar's  worth  of 
goods  or  fun  for  each  member  of 
the  family,  too  often,  father, 
mother  and  children  all  clamor  for 
its  use  at  one  time.  The  miracle 
of  having  the  siame  greenback  buy 
an  overcoat  for  each  of  them  has 
not  yet  come  to  pass,  but  trans- 
forming financial  chaos  into  order 
is  at  the  command  of  everyone  who 
intelligently  plans  his  spending. 


jpVERY  family  should  have  an 
adequate  spending  scheme  of 
its  own,  an  entirely  individualistic 
plan,  for  there  is  no  feasible  average 
in  budgeting  to  suit  different  peo- 
ple's needs.  Tastes  and  expenses 
vary  as  surely  as  statures  and  com- 
plexions. No  sample  budget,  de- 
voted to  typical  percentages,  will 
be  effective  for  any  one  family's 
requirements,  because  food,  shelter, 
and  clothing  items  differ  tremen- 
dously for  families  of  equal  size. 
Thrift,  which  is  desirable  to  one 
person,  is  odious  to  another.  Some 
people  save  for  trips,  others  to  own 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


3SS 


a  home,  some  to  buy  la  yacht,  and 
some  to  replace  the  kitchen  lino- 
leum. But  one  thing  should  be 
common  to  all  spending  schemes, 
a  good  system  for  recording  receipts 
and  disbursements.  And  herein 
lies  the  value  of  the  budget!  It 
gives  you  a  general  view  of  your 
classified  accounts,  and  it  makes 
possible  a  fairly  accurate  estimate 
of  your  future  expenses.  It  pro- 
vides a  factual  basis  which  enables 
you  to  equalize  your  income  and 
outgo,  and  it  reveals  the  true  status 
of  your  bank  account — no  more 
cross-eyed  squinting  at  a  lean  bal- 
ance on  the  first  of  the  month  when 
you  have  been  expecting  a  fat  one. 

To  be  successful,  budgeting  re- 
quires the  earnest  cooperation  of 
the  whole  family.  Gone  are  the 
days  when  the  father  is  the  sole 
breadwinner  and  also  the  single- 
voiced  dictator  of  the  family  ex- 
chequer. Often  there  are  several 
earners  in  a  family,  and  all  the 
members,  except  the  infants,  should 
be  the  spenders.  Heretofore  chil- 
dren have  been  taught  almost  ex- 
clusively how  to  save. 

"Here's  a  penny.  Run  put  it  in 
your  savings  bank!"  and  Johnny 
would  jingle  the  coins  in  his  bank 
with  complacent  satisfaction  as  he 
completed  the  command.  That 
was  the  thing  to  do. 

Now  Johnny  is  supposed  to 
learn  at  an  early  age  the  meaning 
of  profit  and  loss,  and  he  should 
know  how  to  use  his  allowance, 
what  proportion  of  it  should  be 
saved,  and  how  to  receive  the  great- 
est value  for  what  he  spends.  All 
this  takes  instruction  and  experi- 
ence. As  the  allowance  increases 
with  added  years,  the  responsibility 
for  an  intelligent  use  of  it  should 
increase.  Buying  powers  should 
be  enlarged  gradually  from  the 
small  child's  random  spending  of 
the  nickel  or  dime  for  anything  he 
wants  to  the  eight  or  nine  year 
old's  use  of  his  margin  on  his  earn- 
ings for  some  desired  object. 

TXTHERE  practicable  the  adoles- 
cent  should  have  an  allow- 
ance which  covers  clothing  costs, 
school  expenses,  amusements,  and 
sundries.  If  family  accounts  have 
been  kept  carefully  the  parents 
should  have  a  fair  idea  of  what  an 
adolescent's  yearly  expenses  amount 
to.  Exclusive  of  room  and  board, 
at  least  to  begin  with,  young  peo- 
ple should  be  allowed  to  handle 
cheir  own  accounts.  One  twelfth 
of  the  estimated  annual  sum  could 


be  given  as  a  regular  monthly  al- 
lowance, and  boys  and  girls  could 
be  responsible  for  all  personal  ex- 
penses. They  would  soon  learn 
the  approximate  cost  of  various 
items,  and  they  could  get  some  fine 
experience  in  planning  their  ex- 
penditures and  in  learning  to  avoid 
treasury  leaks  and  extravagances. 
Coming  out  ahead  one  month  is 
not  the  same  as  having  a  good  sum 
to  one's  credit  at  the  end  of  a  year. 
It  would  not  take  long  to  learn 
that  any  excess  money  over  the 
current  month's  expenses  should 
not  be  squandered,  but  should  be 
consistently  saved  in  order  to  take 
care  of  heavier  expenses  at  some 
future  time.  Such  knowledge  and 
experience,  gained  in  budgeting,  is 
helpful  in  developing  a  general 
sense  of  proportion  and  balance. 
To  be  successful  this  work  requires 
a  good  deal  of  practice  and  self- 
restraint,  but  if  a  child  has  been 
taught  from  his  earliest  years  how 
to  spend  and  save  wisely,  and  to 
take  pleasure  in  delayed  rewards, 
he  will  not  find  the  financial  re- 
sponsibilities of  his  adolescence  too 
great.  In  taking  over  such  re- 
sponsibilities, he  will  gain  some 
splendid  preparation  for  his  adult 
life. 

The  college  student  who  lives 
away  from  home  should  also  bud- 
get his  allowance  and  assume  the 
responsibility  of  planning  his  ex- 
penses. He  should  know  the  exact 
cost  of  his  room  and  board,  his  tu- 
ition fees,  club  dues,  etc.,  and 
knowing  the  amount  of  his  allow- 
ance, hel  should  be  able  to  estimate 
the  available  percentage  for  clothes, 
amusements,  and  miscellaneous  ex- 
penses. These  suggestions  also 
apply  to  girls,  and  therefore,  as  a 
matter  of  being  fitted  for  life,  every 
child  should  be  taught  how  to 
budget,  and  the  whole  family 
should  plan  and  support  its  spend- 
ing scheme. 

'T^HE  matter  of  recording  the  in- 
come and  expenditures  is  not 
difficult.  You  can  easily  make 
your  own  account  book  in  a  loose- 
leaf  tablet,  or  a  five  cent  notebook; 
you  can  purchase  one  for  a  small 
sum,  or  you  can  send  to  the  Cities 
Service  Corporation,  60  Wall  St., 
New  York  City,  and  a  nice  one 
will  be  forwarded  ito  you  free  of 
charge.  Your  record  should  be 
sufficiently  detailed  to  give  you  an 
accurate  picture  of  all  your  receipts 
and  disbursements.  Your  appor- 
tionment    and     spending    scheme 


should  be  sufficiently  elastic  to  al- 
low for  constant  readjustment  if 
necessary,  and  for  unforeseen  ex- 
penses, and  also  for  replacements 
in  personal  and  household  equip- 
ment. If  you  are  making  your 
own  account  book,  you  might  in- 
clude any  or  all  the  following  clas- 
sifications: Food,  with  the  subdivi- 
sions of  groceries,  meat  and  milk ; 
shelter,  including  all  maintenance 
for  home,  rent,  or  the  monthly 
payment  towards  owning  a  home; 
laundry,  cleaning  and  service; 
household  equipment;  carfare;  auto 
expenses;  education,  church,  books, 
and  magazines;  amusements  and 
recreation;  miscellaneous;  and  sav- 
ings. 

The  surest  and  easiest  way  to 
keep  your  accounts  is  to  enter  all 
your  expenses  in  your  daily  record 
every  night.  Never  fail  to  do  this! 
When  forming  a  habit,  allow  no 
exceptions  to  occur;  so  if  you  are 
just  commencing  the  budget  habit, 
never  fail  to  make  your  entries  be- 
fore retiring.  Having  done  this 
for  a  month  or  two,  and  having 
duly  considered  your  balances,  you 
will  be  prepared  to  shape  your 
budget  to  your  ends  and  to  answer 
your  own  questions  in  regard  to 
what  should  be  spent  in  different 
ways.  Your  needs  and  desires  are 
entirely  individualistic,  and  no  one 
can  plan  your  spending  as  well  as 
you  can.  Do  not  be  discouraged 
if  your  balance  shows  some  dis- 
crepancies. They  are  bound  to  oc- 
cur, due  to  some'  oversight  in  the 
entries.  Place  their  amount  in 
your  miscellaneous  column,  and  be 
watchful  that  they  do  not  become 
too  large  or  disproportionate.  Set 
a  goal  for  saving  a  certain  amount 
for  future  needs.  Whether  the  un- 
foreseen should  prove  to  be  a  rainy 
day  or  ja.  glowing  experience,  it  is 
best  to  he  prepared  for  cnr'rgencies. 

BUDGETING  is  one  game  in 
which  the  safe  play  is  abso- 
lutely the  only  successful  play. 
You  can't  take  chances  on  dollars 
you  haven't  got,  nor  should  you 
spend  them,  trusting  that  the 
charge  account  will  be  paid.  One 
valuable  thing  about  the  budget  is 
that  it  reveals  the  fact  that  a  debt 
is  a  debt,  and  that  it  is  just  as  hard 
to  pay  for  an  article  in  a  month 
or  two  as  it  is  at  the  current  mo- 
ment. 

The  usual  reaction  to  anyone's 
first  attempt  at  budgeting  is  a  long 
drawn  out  sigh,  and  an  exclama- 
tion to  the  effect  that  it  just  can't 
(Continued  on  page  3  60) 


356 


A  Home  For  $130 

By  KATRINA  HINCKS 

(March,    1932.   Forum) 

DURING  the  summer  of  1932  a 
sturdy  little  gray  stone  house 
was  built  on  a  Connecticut 
hillside,  by  Bill  and  Ann  Car- 
ter, two  years  out  of  college  and  tem- 
porarily out  of  a  job.  The  little  house 
represents  a  new  way  of  tackling  1933. 
Before  they  were  married,  Bill  and  Ann 
decided  that  the  Carter  farm  would  be 
a  lovely  place  to  build  a  little  shack  for 
weekends;  then  last  April  when  Bill 
was  told  that  he  wouldn't  be  needed  in 
his  job,  they  began  to  make  plans  for 
the  house  which  was  to  be  much  more 
than  a  summer  plaything. 

I  can  hardly  picture  Ann  living  the 
rugged  country  life,  for  at  school  she 
lived  the  gardenia  and  house-party  life, 
studying  advanced  art  and  other  things 
little  calculated  to  make  a  country- 
dweller  of  her.  But  I  know  she  does 
live  the  simple  life,  for  I  visited  their 
home  and  found  out  for  myself.  Ann 
was  waiting  for  me  at  the  top  of  the 
hill,  an  oil  lantern  alight  to  point  our 
way;  Bill  was  chopping  wood — that 
being  the  only  fuel  they  used.  He  had 
been  most  energetic  at  it,  for  we  had 
to  climb  over  a  great  pile  of  it  which 
he  had  stacked  in  front  of  the  door. 

Inside,  I  found  a  warm,  stone- walled 
room  with  a  big  fire  crackling  and 
steam  coming  out  of  a  kettle  hung  on 
the  crane  over  the  open  fire.  Opposite 
the  hearth  was  a  wide  double-bunk, 
built  in.  Ann  lighted  two  kerosene 
lamps,  and  the  room  sprang  into  re- 
lief. She  and  Bill  began  preparations 
for  supper,  cooking  over  the  open  fire, 
which,  they  assured  me,  was  simple, 
once  one  was  used  to  it.  "I  can  boil 
anything  by  hanging  pots  and  kettles 
from  the  crane.  I  can  broil  anything 
by  resting  a  broiler  on  an  iron  frame 
we  had  made;  and  I  can  bake  things 
in  my  pet  oven."  The  only  difficulty 
was,  it  appeared,  that  dinner  might  be 
at  6:30  or  at  8,  depending  upon  the 
particular  fire  of  the  evening. 

After  a  delicious  meal,  they  ex- 
plained how  they  managed  about  liv- 
ing expenses- — ^and  how  they  had  built 
the  house.  The  latter  had  been  ac- 
complished by  such  means  as  dragging 
stones  from  an  old  wall  above  the  pas- 


ture, beams  and  floor-planks  and  tim- 
bers from  an  old  barn  belonging  to  the 
place;  the  rest  of  the  material,  as  well 
as  the  furnishing,  had  been  obtained 
by  fair  means  or  foul. 

It  took  six  months  to  build,  the 
mornings  being  spent  in  gathering  ma- 
terials and  the  afternoons  in  actual  con- 
struction. Ann's  version  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  house  was  somewhat  less  ac- 
tive than  Bill's  but  interesting  (and 
she  but  two  years  away  from  the  study 
of  manuscript  illumination  in  col- 
lege) .  At  first,  she  said  she  simply  sat 
around  on  the  edge  of  the  excavation 
and  made  idle  remarks;  later  she  ran 
back  and  forth  looking  for  small  rocks 
to  fill  in  between  the  large  ones.  From 
there  she  was  promoted  to  stone-crack- 
er, for  which  occupation  she  soon 
learned  to  close  her  eyes.  She  even 
learned  to  mix  concrete.  When  they 
reached  the  roof.  Bill  put  up  the  rafters 
and  roof-boards,  and  Ann  followed 
with  shingles.  When  the  floor  was  to 
be  laid.  Bill  put  the  boards  down  and 
Ann  followed  on  hand  and  knees  to 
plane  and  scrape — a  back-breaking  job 
which  she  soon  relinquished  in  favor 
of  staining  rafters  and  ceiling.  Together 
they  made  the  tables  and  bunks,  and 
then  brightened  up  the  place  with  ar- 
ticles purchased  at  the  five  and  ten  cent 
store.  The  total  cost  of  the  house  was 
as  follows: 

Building  materials $   34.15 

Tools  13.71 

Cement,  lime,  sand 26.15 

Hardware  19.37 

Furnishings 36.43 

Total  -$129.81 

Since  they  did  not  have  to  buy  the 
land,  they  were  able  to  do  the  thing 
much  more  cheaply  than  other  couples 
who  were  less  fortunate  in  the  be- 
ginning. But  there  are  still  in  Amer- 
ica millions  of  acres  of  land  to  be 
bought  cheap. 

Living  expenses  they  summed  up  as 
follows: 
Light  (kerosene  for  lamps  and 

lanterns)     $      .80 

Food     (including     staples     the 

first  month)   26.00 

Heat    (wood   chopped   by   Bill 

and  gathered  from  the  place)  0.00 
Cooking   expense   0.00 

Total  - $26.80 


Travel,  mostly  by  way  of  Bill's 
Ford,  comes  very  reasonably.  So  far 
almost  no  clothes  have  been  purchased. 
Bill  has  earned  the  necessary  milk  and 
eggs  by  helping  with  the  work  on  the 
farm. 

Bill  is  not  working  for  someone  else 
at  a  job  he  might  hate,  and  yet  would 
feel  he  should  be  grateful  for  in  times 
like  these.  He  and  Ann  have  an  ob- 
ject which  is  their  own,  and  fascinat- 
ing— they  are  fighting  tangible  diffi- 
culties like  the  frozen  spring,  endless 
wood  to  be  cut  and  food  cooked.  Their 
solution  is  not  one  that  everyone  could 
attempt,  but  it  represents  courage  and 
gaity.  They  are  finding  a  way  out, 
and  having  fun  in  doing  it. 

The  Forgotten  Man  to  His 

President 

By  WILSON  FOLLETT 

(Atlantic  Monthly  for  Mar.,  1933) 

TTT'E  have  given  you  what  you  asked 
^  ^  for — our  votes.  Millions  of  us 
have  helped  you  to  the  office  to  which 
you  aspired — thousands  who  never  had 
cast  a  ballot  before.  You  go  to  your 
office  as  the  choice  of  all  parties,  social 
classes  and  sections  of  country  in  a  way 
and  to  a  degree  never  granted  to  any 
man  in  America  before.  It  would  be 
natural  for  you  to  surrender  yourself 
to  the  elation  of  victor  in  a  partisan 
contest,  but  we  want  you  to  see  your- 
self in  a  different  light  than  that.  Rather 
than  a  victorious  general,  a  conquer- 
ing hero  in  plumed  and  gilded  coach, 
as  you  might  be  human  enough  to  re- 
gard yourself,  we  should  like  you  to 
go  to  your  task  clothed  in  the  sack- 
cloth of  an  invulnerable  humility,  not 
arrayed  in  self-confidence  and  pride,  or 
vestured  in  the  illusion  of  power,  glory 
and  importance  to  which  we  might 
succumb  in  your  place. 

We  have  given  you  the  votes  you 
wanted,  but  along  with  them  goes  a  de- 
mand that  you  gain  a  simple  under- 
standing of  what  we  meant  when  we 
voted  for  you.  To  whom  can  you 
turn  for  this  urgently  necessary  under- 
standing? Not  your  late  campaign 
managers  and  workers — their  game  is 
not  truth,  but  flattery.  Their  interpre- 
tation is  that  we  gave  you  a  stupendous 
demonstration  of  our  confidence  in  you 
— and  therein  you  have  the  measure  of 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


357 


their  hopeless  remoteness  from  us  plain, 
non-political  folk  and  our  mental  post- 
ure. It  was  an  inevitable  bit  of  comedy 
that  they  should  make  you  that  hollow 
declaration,  but  if  you  believe  a  word 
of  it,  you  will  become  a  victim  of 
tragedy.  To  gain  a  true  knowledge  of 
what  has  really  been  happening  in  the 
minds  of  Americans,  there  is  only  one 
quarter  to  which  you  can  turn — the 
quarter  occupied  by  the  "Forgotten 
man"  made  memorable  in  the  phrase 
you  borrowed  from  William  Graham 
Sumner  for  your  campaign.  By  the 
forgotten  man  we  think  you  mean  as 
— the  forgotten  people  of  America — 
the  plain  folk,  distrustful  of  politics 
and  politicians,  who  put  you  where 
you  are.  If,  having  once  understood 
that  we  really  exist,  you  are  resolved  to 
keep  us  in  mind  and  work  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  our  legitimate  hopes,  all 
advice  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding, 
then  you  possess  the  first  and  greatest 
qualification  for  becoming  the  Presi- 
dent of  all  the  people,  and  you  can  have 
any  degree  of  support  from  the  people 
that  you  will  ever  require.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  you  lose  touch  with  us; 
if  you  let  politicians  sell  you  their  polit- 
ical interpretations  of  our  extremely 
non-political  state  of  mind,  then  you 
are  primed  for  the  disaster  which  over- 
took your  predecessor  in  office.  We 
hope  that  since  your  election,  you  have 
been  mlealsuring  and  collecting  your 
merely  human  powers  against  the  ap- 
palling demands  ahead,  studying  to 
make  yourself  a  better  man  than  we 
elected.  We  hope  you  have  been  feel- 
ing out  the  spirit  of  the  country,  striv- 
ing to  penetrate  the  smoke  screen  of 
mere  party  strategy  to  the  realities  of 
your  forgotten  man.  You  will  find 
in  these  pages  the  voice  and  spirit  of 
the  forgotten  man  trying  to  speak  to 
you.  There  is  nothing  here  which 
does  not  faithfully  represent  the 
thoughts  of  unnumbered  Americans — 
clerks  and  sales  persons  trying  to  get 
along  on  a  third  of  a  job  apiece;  fore- 
closed ranchers;  ruined  farmers  and 
planters;  newspaper  men  who  revile  the 
policies  of  their  managing  editors; 
mechanics  in  garages;  waiters  in  res- 
taurants; mill  operatives;  fishermen; 
those  on  charity  and  those  giving  char- 
ity to  their  neighbors;  movie  extras; 
librarians,  teachers,  writers,  mining  en- 
gineers of  closed  mines — -in  short — us. 
We  are  the  only  ones  from  whom  you 
will  hear  the  actual  truth,  for  we  arc 
the  only  ones  who  ask  nothing  for 
themselves  and  who  expect  nothing  ex- 
cept the  common  good. 

You  must  not  mistake  our  vote  for 
a  vote  of  confidence.  It  was  a  vote  of 
hope.  What  we  really  gave  you  was 
a  chance  to  earn  our  confidence.  Your 
opponents  elected  you — it  was  not  so 
much  that  they  chose  you  as  they  re- 
jected the  others  who  had  taken  ad- 
vantage of  every  major  opportunity  to 
be  wrong  since  1919,  as  one  of  them 
said,  and  our  cumulative  realization  of 


that  wrong  defeated  them.  You  be- 
came the  beneficiary  of  our  conviction 
that  a  change  of  administration  might 
possibly  improve  our  condition,  and 
could  not  possibly  make  it  worse.  You 
were  elected  by  our  universal  belief  that 
the  worst  possible  calamity  which 
could  befall  us  was  four  years  more  of 
what  we  had  just  had. 

About  you  personally,  we  know  lit- 
tle. We  think  you  are  a  good  fellow, 
and  that  you  are  a  good  man.  We  can 
imagine  that  you  would  make  personal 
sacrifice  to  relieve  sufi^ering  among 
your  fellows.  We  do  not  think  you 
will  use  your  ofiice  to  further  self-in- 
terest. We  admire  you  as  a  man  who 
confronts  his  work  with  the  healthy 
gusto  which  a  good  many  persons  de- 
vote only  to  play,  and  who  does  his 
work  better  for  finding  in  it  a  pleasur- 
able excitement. 

If  you  had  had  the  destitute  marchers 
in  the  bonus  army  on  your  hands  last 
summer,  we  suspect  that  you  would 
have  gone  to  them  informally,  talked 
companionably  with  them,  had  a  grand 
time  yourself,  and  gone  away  leaving 
them  with  the  feeling  that  you  were 
their  friend.  If  you  had  found  it  ne- 
cessary to  put  them  out,  your  tact  and 
candor  would  have  made  it  easy  for 
you  to  show  them  why — and  they 
would  have  left  cheering  you.  You 
have  the  great  gift  of  making  it  easy 
for  all  sorts  of  people  to  like  you.  It 
will  give  you  the  advantage  of  doing 
the  thing  which  is  politically  advan- 
tageous and  morally  g|enuine.  Our 
only  question  is  how  many  wrong, 
evasive  things  are  you  capable  of  do- 
ing to  win  support? 

We  see  clearly  that  it  will  take  a  very 
great  President  indeed  to  bring  about 
any  positive  betterment  during  the 
next  few  years.  We  do  not  believe 
that  any  party  caused  the  depression, 
nor  that  any  party  can  end  it.  All  we 
can  really  demand  of  the  political  sys- 
tem is  that  it  shall  keep  out  of  our  light 
while  we  ourselves  take  the  steps  which 
will  end  the  depression  which  we  our- 
selves brought  about. 

You  see  how  it  is.  We  expect  of 
you  the  great  things  for  which  the 
emergency  calls — things  greater  than 
have  been  required  of  any  President 
since  Lincoln — and  yet  we  have  been 
led  to  wonder  if  there  is  enough  sheer 
power  in  your  composition  to  meet 
with  inspired  energy  the  stupendous 
demands  of  the  time.  We  want  to 
see  that  you  are  a  leader — let  us  see 
that,  and  there  is  no  length  to  which 
we  would  not  go  to  support  you.    But 

Friendship 

By  Juanita  Pulsipher 

'T^HE  glow  of  friendship  is  to  me 
-*•      Like  moonlight  on  a  gnarled  old  tree, 
lUum'ing  the   whole,    soft'ning  each  scar, 
Gilding  each  day-time  blemish  and  mar, 
Transforming  the  common  to  majesty. 


if,  as  President,  you  try  to  please 
everyone;  if  you  substitute  policy  and 
diplomacy  for  uncompromising  cour- 
age, we  can  only  then  heave  the  old 
familiar  sigh  of  relief  for  wasted  votes. 
We  shall  have  asked  for  the  bread  of 
leadership  only  to  be  given  the  cut- 
glass  of  graceful  forensic  diction.  Are 
you  a  savior  for  our  country  or  only  an 
attractive  and  facile  man,  an  able  poli- 
tician, a  fluent  compromiser  whose  im- 
portance to  history  in  the  long  run  will 
be  that  he  called  attention  to  the 
neglected  works  of  Sumner  who  spoke 
of  the  "Forgotten  Man"? 

We  could  forgive  you  many  political 
errors  if  you  show  the  fight  necessary 
to  win  along  lines  of  your  own  con- 
victions. It  is  your  spirit  which  will 
count.  You  cannot  give  us  prosper- 
ity, but  you  can  help  to  create  the  at- 
mosphere in  which  real  prosperity 
breeds.  You  can  lay  the  basis  for  a 
new  definition  of  prosperity  to  take 
the  place  of  the  wrong  one  we  have 
had.  Many  of  us  realize  that  true 
prosperity  is  not  the  thing  we  had 
before  1929,  but  that  it  is  based  on 
security,  continuity,  thrift — values 
which  will  last  longer.  What  we  arc 
awaiting  is  the  assurance  that  you  share 
in  the  realization — and  that  bankers, 
financiers,  wild-cat  promoters,  members 
of  the  Stock  exchange,  and  every  ven- 
dor of  insecurities  share  it,  also.  We 
can  stand  any  length  of  dark  passage, 
if  we  are  assured  of  coming  out  into  the 
light  at  the  end.  What  we  cannot 
stand  is  much  more  false  encourage- 
ment. If  there  is  ever  a  social  revolu- 
tion in  this  country,  it  will  be  the 
product  of  unfulfillable  reactionary 
promises  made  to  keep  us  quiet. 

If  you  want  us  to  support  you  in 
1936,  lead  us  now.  Grasp  and  use 
the  elements  of  unity  and  serenity  un- 
derlying the  troubled  surface  of  Amer- 
ican life  today.  What  a  magnificent, 
what  an  unparalleled  opportunity  is 
yours  to  be  the  President  of  all  the 
people.  No  President  of  modern  times 
has  been  more  free  to  respond  to  the 
changing  demands  of  current  facts  and 
fixed  demands  of  his  own  principles. 
When  the  knowing  ones  suggest  to  you, 
as  they  will,  that  the  Presidency  is  not 
social  philosophy  or  generalizationls, 
however  inspiring,  but  simply  the  oil- 
ing of  an  incredibly  complicate  ma- 
chine, and  that  anything  else  is  dis- 
loyalty to  the  party,  think  of  that  im- 
mense majority  who  voted  for  you — 
think  of  us.  We  shall  not  bother  you 
much;  we  do  not  clamor  at  officials, 
nor  hound  them.  You  will  wonder, 
sometimes,  if  we  really  exist,  for  we 
shall  be  so  quiet  compared  with  those 
at  your  very  ears.  But  we  do  exist;  and 
we  are  watching  you.  We  will  be  here 
when  you  have  need  of  us.  Work  for 
us  and  we  will  stand  by  you.  Let  us 
feel  that  you  believe  in  us  and  nothing 
can  undo  our  belief  in  you.  Remem- 
ber the  forgotten  man  and  he  will  make 
you  a  remembered  President! 


358 


Destination  Unknown 

Another  attempt  to  suggest  the  crea- 
tion of  a  Christ  as  an  actual  participant 
in  human  affairs.  This  time  it  takes 
place  on  a  rum-running  ship.  Not  very 
convincing,  niot  highly  entertaining. 
Only  passable.    Adults. 

The  Great  Jasper 

Story  of  a  lovable,  fun-loving  Irish- 
man, married  to  a  narrow-minded 
woman  and  taking  his  fun  where  he 
finds  it.  Plot  and  treatment  out  of  the 
ordinary.     Direction  excellent.  Adults. 

Humanity 

Tale  of  a  doctor  in  New  York  who 
sacrifices  himself  to  save  his  son  and 
redeem  him  to  the  realities  of  his  work. 
Family. 
The    Keyhole 

Romance  of  a  lady  and  private  de- 
tective— not  very  strong  in  dramatic 
values  and  not  particularly  well  played. 
Fair  entertainment  for  Adults. 
Life  of  Jimmie  Dolan 

Farm  life,  child  interests,  the  lifting 
of  the  mortgage  and  prize-fighting  all 
combined.      Fair,    in    a    rough    way, 
though  not  outstanding.     Family. 
Men  Must  Fight 

Picture    of    woman's    futile    battle 
against  war  spirit.     Excellent  acting. 
Not  interesting  to  children.     Adults. 
Man  Hunt 

Junior  Durkin  appears  as  an  am- 
ateur detective  in  a  small-town  crime. 
Clean,  cheerful,  fairly  amusing.  Fam- 
ily. 
Rome  Express 

The  thief  of  a  famous  painting 
boards  the  train  and  the  lives  of  several 
people  are  changed.  Good  photography 
and  characterizations.  Adults  and 
young  people. 

Secrets  of  Madame  Blanche 

Old  story  of  sacrifice  of  mother  love. 
Acceptably  played.  Fair  for  adults  who 
like  the  type. 

Secrets 

Delightful  beginning  leaps  disap- 
pointingly into  western,  politics,  old 
age  and  other  things  which  produce  a 
curiously  discontinuous  story,  with 
some  parts  excellently  done.     Family. 

State  Fair 

Humor,  romance,  popular  stars  and 


genuine  interest  will  make  State  Fair 
a  winner.  Some  suggestive  details — 
one  scene  in  particular — detract  from 
the  production  and  lets  down  the  Gay- 
nor  and  Rogers  standards.  Because  of 
this,  it  cannot  be  recommended. 
Crime  of  the  Century 

Well     handled     murder     mystery. 
Adults  and  young  people. 
Employees  Entrance 

The  marriage  of  a  young  department 
store  head  and  a  beautiful  girl  is  almost 
wrecked  through  the  schemes  of  the 
store-manager,  an  immoral  man  who 
tries  to  dominate  the  lives  of  his  em- 
ployees. Well  directed  and  well- 
acted.  Recommendation  necessarily 
withheld  because  of  drinking  scenes 
and  other  unwholesome  details. 

The  following  plays  are  not  recom- 
mended by  any  of  the  groups  preview- 
ing and  reporting: 

Child  of  Manhattan,  Sailor  Be 
Good,  Wax  Museum,  What,  No  Beer! 

A  list  of  pictures  chosen  as  suitable 
for  children  is  herewith  submitted: 

Pictures  Suitable  for  Children  Between 
the  Ages  of  8-12  Years 

1.  Amateur  Daddy  Fox 

2.  Beyond  the  Rockies RKO 

3.  The  Big  Broadcast Paramount 

4.  The  Big  Stampede Warner 

5.  Bring  'Em  Back  Alive RKO 

6.  Business  and  Pleasxire Fox 

7.  Come  On,   Danger RKO 

8.  Come  On,  Tarzan_-_World  Wide 

9.  Congorilla    Fox 

10.  Cornered   Columbia 

11.  Crooked  Circle World  Wide 

12.  Dangers  of  the  Arctic 

Explorers  Film  Co. 

13.  Destry  Rides  Again Universal 

14.  Fast  Companions  Universal 

15.  Fireman  Save  My  Child Warner 

1 6.  Ghost  Valley RKO 

1 7.  The  Golden  West Fox 

18.  Hell  Fire  Austin Tiffany 


19.  Haunted  Gold  Warner 

20.  Heritage  of  the  Desert._Paramount 

21.  Heroes  of  the  West Universal 

22.  Hidden  Gold Universal 

23.  Hold  'Em  Jail RKO 

24.  Little  Orphan  Annie RKO 

25.  McKenna  of  the  Mounted 

Columbia 

26.  Make  Me  a  Star Paramount 

2  7.   The  Man  from  Mexico 

Monogram 

28.  Marked  Men  Universal 

29.  Movie  Crazy Paramount 

30.  Mr.  Robinson  Crusoe 

United  Artists 

31.  My  Pal,   The  King Universal 

32.  Pack  Up  Your  Troubles  M-G-M 

33.  Partners    RKO 

34.  The  Phantom  President 

Paramount 

35.  Racing  Youth   Universal 

36.  Rebecca  of  Sunnybrook  Farm 
Fox 

3  7.   Renegades  of  the  West RKO 

38.  Ride   'Em,    Cowboy Warner 

39.  Rider  of  Death  Valley__Universal 

40.  Robbers'  Roost  Fox 

41.  The  Saddle  Buster RKO 

42.  Texas  Cyclone  Columbia 

43.  Tom  Brown  at  Culver-Universal 

44.  Too   Busy   to   Work Fox 

45.  Trailing  the  Killer__„ World  Wide 

46.  The  Vanishing  Frontier 

Paramount 

47.  When  a  Feller  Needs  a  Friend 
1 M-G-M 

48.  Wild  Horse  Mesa Paramount 

49.  Wild  Horse   Stampede„Columbia 

50.  With  Williamson  Beneath  the 
Sea  Principal 

51.  You  Said  a  Mouthful Warner 

The  Best  of  the  Short  Subjects 

Aesop  Fables RKO-Pathe 

Cannibals  of  the  Deep Educational 

Fisherman's   Paradise   M-G-M 

Fitzpatrick  Traveltalks  M-G-M 

Hodge-Podge,  by  Lyman  Howe 

Educational 

The  Magic  Carpet  Series Fox 

Mickey  Mouse  

Columbia  and  United  Artists 

E.  M.  Newman  Travel  Talks 

Vitaphone 

Silly  Symphonies  United  Artists 

Vagabond  Adventure  Series RKO 


359 


<iJKelchizedek  'Priesthood 


The  Talkie  Goes  to  Church 


"And  it  came  to  pass  that  while  they 
were  thus  conversing  one  with  another, 
they  heard  a  voice  as  if  it  came  out  of 
heaven;  and  they  cast  their  eyes  around 
about,  for  they  understood  not  the  voice 
which  they  heard;  and  it  was  not  a  harsh 
voice,  neither  was  it  a  loud  voice;  never- 
theless, and  notwithstanding  it  being  a 
small  voice,  it  did  pierce  them  that  did 
hear  to  the  center,  so  much  that  there  was 
no  part  of  their  frame  that  it  did  not 
cause  to  quake;  yea,  it  did  pierce  them  to 
the  very  soul,  and  did  cause  their  hearts 
to  burn."     Ill  Nephi,  Chapter  II,  Verse  3. 

PRIOR  to  the  year  1930  many 
M^ards  of  the  church  purchased 
motion  picture  equipment 
which  was  used  not  only  for  the 
purpose  of  adding  to  the  recreational 
program  of  the  ward  by  presenting 
wholesome  motion  pictures  to  the 
members,  but  at  the  same  time  provid- 
ing maintenance  funds  for  the  upkeep 
of  the  church  property  without  levying 
a  direct  tax  upon  members  of  the  ward 
for  this  purpose.  With  the  develop- 
ment of  the  sound  motion  picture,  the 
bishops  of  these  wards  discovered  that 
it  was  difficult  to  secure  suitable  pictures 
to  meet  their  purposes.  They  found 
expensive  equipment  on  hand,  in  some 
cases  not  fully  paid  for,  and  yet  useless. 
A  few  enterprising  wards,  feeling  the 
need  of  modern  equipment  with  which 
to  carry  on  their  recreational  program, 
entered  into  contracts  for  sound  equip- 
ment. In  many  cases  this  equipment 
was  largely  experimental  because  it  was 
found  the  better  equipment  was  too 
expensive  for  use  in  the  wards.  In 
a  few  cases  after  only  a  few  months 
some  of  this  equipment  first  purchased 
became  obsolete,  and  the  matter  was 
called  to  the  attention  of  the  Presidency 
of  the  Church  who  felt  that  some  effort 
should  be  made  to  protect  wards  from 
salesmen  who  had  equipment  to  sell 
and  whose  only  interest  apparently  was 
the  profit  to  be  had  through  such  sale. 
After  nearly  a  year  of  investigation 
during  which  the  purposes  for  which 
sound  picture  equipment  could  be  used 
were  considered,  and  also  the  cost  of 
purchase,  maintenance,  and  operation 
of    such    equipment,     the    committee 


By  DAVID  A.  SMITH 
F/rsr  Counselor  to  the  Presiding  Bishop 

recommended  to  the  First  Presidency 
that  if  a  favorable  contract  could  be 
entered  into  with  one  company  to  pro- 
vide equipment  for  wards,  this  should 
be  done.  The  committee  was  instruct- 
ed to  continue  their  negotiations  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  for  the  wards  a  con- 
tract which  would  permit  them  to  make 
purchase  on  an  easy  payment  plan.  Af- 
ter months  of  negotiations,  a  contract 
with  one  of  the  largest  producers  of 
sound  picture  equipment  in  the  world 
was  accepted.  This  contract  provided 
that  such  equipment  could  be  purchased 
by  the  wards  on  a  monthly  payment 
plan  which  it  was  thought  by  the  com- 
mittee would  make  it  possible  for 
members  of  the  church  in  the  outlying 
sections  especially  to  enjoy  modern  en- 
tertainment while  paying  for  that  priv- 
ilege. This  plan  provided  for  the  com- 
plete ownership  of  such  equipment  after 
the  contract  price  had  been  paid. 

Many  wards  have  taken  advantage 
of  this  opportunity  and  are  finding  the 
sound  equipment  not  only  entertain- 
ing, but  educational.  With  non-syn- 
chronous equipment,  music  of  the  best 
kind  can  be  furnished  for  entertain- 
ments, music  for  the  dance,  as  well  as 
for  concert  purposes,  but  they  are  now 
finding  the  most  valuable  feature  of 
such  equipment  is  its  educational  possi- 
bilities. As  an  experiment,  a  picture 
was  taken  of  President  Grant,  President 
Ivins,  and  some  other  church  leaders. 
This  picture  has  been  used  by  some  of 
the  wards. 

One  bishop  announced  that  President 
Grant  would  meet  with  them  on  a  cer- 
tain night  and  deliver  an  address.  The 
meeting  house  was  filled,  but  Presi- 
dent Grant  did  not  make  an  appearance. 
The  services  were  carried  on  in  the 
usual  manner.  Finally  the  lights  were 
turned  off,  the  picture  was  thrown  up- 
on the  screen,  and  before  this  group 
of  church  members  and  invited  guests 
stood  President  Grant.  His  voice  was 
heard  as  he  delivered  a  message  to  the 
audience  he  could  not  see. 

Another  ward  reported  the  follow- 
ing: "Since  the  installation  of  our 
picture   machine  about  a  month  ago. 


we  have  been  fortunate  in  securing  a 
number  of  reels  which  we  used  on  each 
Sunday  night  at  sacrament  meeting. 
Our  children  for  the  first  time  saw  and 
heard  President  Grant,  President  Ivins, 
David  O.  McKay,  Bishop  Sylvester  Q. 
Cannon.  They  saw  and  heard  the 
great  organ  with  Edward  P.  Kimball 
at  the  console,  and  next  Sunday  night 
we  will  hear  the  tabernacle  choir  in 
'Let  the  Mountains  Shout  for  Joy.* 
I  doubt  if  you  realize  the  true  value 
these  church  films  are  going  to  bring 
to  the  outlying  wards.  Religious  or 
educational  pictures  are  going  to  do 
much  to  help  bring  out  the  attendance. 
Last  night  we  had  an  outside  brother 
65  years  of  age  who  had  never  heard 
a  sound  picture." 

While  this  is  only  the  beginning  of 
a  great  modern  educational  enterprise, 
we  hardly  need  pause  to  realize  the 
great  possibilities  which  are  before  us 
and  the  opportunity  afforded  for  the 
Presidency  of  the  Church,  who  now  be- 
cause of  the  great  amount  of  detail 
work  required  of  them,  find  it  almost 
impossible  to  visit  the  members  of  the 
church  as  was  the  custom  in  earlier  days. 

As  the  radio  with  its  modern  de- 
velopments has  made  the  whole  world 
almost  as  one  small  community,  how 
long  will  it  be  until  the  Gospel  mes- 
sage delivered  by  our  leaders  as  if  in 
person  will  be  delivered  to  the  church 
often  through  the  medium  of  the  sound 
motion  picture?  What  an  opportunity 
for  taking  to  the  remote  places  the  art 
of  teacher  training  and  the  demonstra- 
tion of  class  work  to  strengthen  the 
work  of  the  Sabbath  Schools,  for  a 
study  of  the  drama,  opera,  or  the  sweet 
tones  of  the  symphony — contests  for 
the  M.  I.  A.,  music  of  sweet  tones  and 
a  rhythm  that  will  encourage  the 
graceful  dance,  the  rhythm  of  motion 
to  music,  harmonious — suggesting 
grace  and  refinement — subjects  of  in- 
terest to  the  M  Men,  the  Vanguards, 
Scouts,  Bee  Hive  Girls,  and  even  those 
of  the  Primary  Organization.  Marvel- 
ous is  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  won- 
derful are  His  ways. 


Weekly  Thoughts  On  Tithing 


nnHE  payment  of  tithing  weekly  or 
monthly  according  to  the  system  by 
which  one's  income  is  paid  makes  tithe- 
paying  easier. 

April   2.      The  paying  of  tithing 


By  DR.  FRANKLIN  MADSEN 

induces  the  habit  of  obedience  not  only 
to  that  law  but  to  allied  laws. 

April  9.  The  paying  of  tithing  is 
often  a  fortification  against  a  dark, 
sinful  life. 


April  16.  The  law  of  tithing  is  a 
fundamental  principle  of  progressive 
and  dynamic  sociology. 

April  23,  The  paying  of  tith- 
ing is  a  preparation  against  judgments 


36a 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


and  calamities  that  arc  to  come  upon 
the  earth  in  the  last  days.  This  is 
definitely  stated  in  Verse  23,  Section 
64  of  the  "Doctrine  and  Covenants" 
as  follows: 

"Behold,  now  it  is  called  today  until 
the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man,  and 
verily  it  is  a  day  of  sacrifice,  and  a  day 
for  the  tithing  of  my  people;  for  he 
that  is  tithed  shall  not  be  burned  at 
his  coming," 

April  30.  One  of  the  purposes 
of  paying  tithing  is  to  build  a  house 
unto  God  for  the  perfecting  of  the 
saints.  This  is  declared  in  the  "Doc- 
trine and  Covenants,"  Section  119, 
Verse  2. 

Suggested  Ward  Teachers' 
Message 

APPLICATION  OF  THE  GOLDEN 
RULE 

Partly  as  an  economy  measure  and 
partly  because  the  Improvement  Era 
goes  into  practically  all  of  the  homes 
of  ward  teachers,  or  should  do,  the 
monthly  suggestion  for  ward  teachers 
is  to  be  printed  in  these  pages.  This 
will  obviate  the  necessity  of  having 
them  printed  by  the  various  stakes. 

"Therefore  all  things  whatsoever  ye 
would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do 
ye  even  so  to  them:  For  this  is  the 
law  and  the  prophets."  Matthew, 
7:12. 

'  I  *HERE  never  was  a  time  when  the 
consistent  application  of  this  divine 
rule  of  conduct  as  between  men  was 
more  greatly  needed  than  the  present. 

People  everywhere  today  are  urging 
more  than  ever  before  the  observance 
of  the  second  great  commandment  of 
the  Savior:  "Thou  shalt  love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself."  A  most  effective 
means  of  approach  to  the  observance  of 
this  great  commandment  is  to  cultivate 
the  practice  of  the  Golden  Rule  in  lit- 
tle, as  well  as  in  greater,  things.  The 
Latter-day  Saints  accept  this  teaching 
fully.  Our  example  is  most  potent  in 
its  influence  upon  others. 

How  may  we  manifest  our  accept- 
ance of  this  principle  in  our  daily  as- 
sociation with  our  fellows?  By  dem- 
onstration, the  possession  and  applica- 
tion of  various  qualities,  among  which 
are  the  following: 

Courfest/.— One  of  the  most  im- 
portant qualities  in  our  daily  contacts. 

Self-control,  whereby  we  retain 
mastery  over  our  feelings  and  actions, 
and  thus  avoid  those  things  which  breed 
strife. 

Judgment,  whereby  we  resist  fault- 
finding and  carping  criticism;  and  pro- 
mote constructive,  helpful  suggestions. 

Consideration,  the  prevention  of 
nuisances;  the  spread  of  contagion;  care 
in  prevention  of  accidents,  injuries,  etc. 


Charity,  the  true  spirit  of  helpful- 
ness and  the  promotion  of  the  real 
welfare  of  others. 

Tolerance,  in  which  we  show  proper 
respect  for  the  opinions  and  feelings  of 
others. 

Let  us  each  keep  these  things  con- 
stantly in  our  minds.  Let  us  develop 
the  habit  of  reviewing  our  acts  of  each 
day  to  determine  if  they  have  conform- 


ed to  the  spirit  of  this  great  principle. 

Let  us  go  further  and  develop  the 
habit  of  analyzing  our  motives  as  we 
plan  our  actions,  to  be  sure  they  arc  in 
harmony  with  this  commandment. 

Thus,  we  shall  be  learning  day  by 
day,  to  manifest  by  our  acts  our  love 
for  our  fellowmen  more  fully,  and  pro- 
viding a  leaven  that  will  spread  its 
beneficial  effects  to  others. 


^Preparing'  the  Soil  for  Flowers- 


slow  life  and  a  steady  one  and  are 
not  quick  eaters  like  the  annuals. 

In  addition  plants  require  sun 
and  air.  From  the  air  they  take 
carbon  dioxide,  which  mixed  with 
the  water  from  the  soil,  forms  car- 
bohydrates in  which  the  plant  cells 
live.  They  need  nitrogen  to  build 
up  the  leaf  and  woody  parts,  phos- 
phoric acid  to  stimulate  root  de- 
velopment and  to  hasten  ripening. 
Since  this  is  the  way  plants  get  their 
food  they  then  must  have  sunlight, 
agreeable  temperature  and  plenty 
of  water* 


^Silver  Linings- 


Continued  from 
page  33  6 


"The  three  cardinal  rules  of  Land- 
scaping; 
Preserve  open  lawn  center, 
Avoid  straight  lines, 
Plant  in  masses,  not  isolated." 

"The  best  things  are  nearest — 
breath  in  your  nostrils,  light  in 
your  eyes,  flowers  at  your  feet, 
duties  at  your  hand,  the  path  of 
God  just  before  you.  Then  do  not 
grasp  at  the  stars,  but  do  life's 
plain  common  work  as  it  conies, 
certain  that  daily  duties  and  daily 
bread  are  the  sweetest  things  of 
life," — Lord  Houghton. 


Continued  from 
page  355 


be  done!  Your  income  doesn't 
allow  for  your  necessities!  Well, 
what  are  you  going  to  do  about  it? 
Pursue  a  running  train  all  your 
life,  or  be  forever  financially  wor- 
ried ?  The  wise  and  thrifty  person 
will  face  his  money  facts,  using 
the  pruning  knife  quite  heartlessly 
where  necessary  to  balance  his  bud- 
get. He  may  have  a  case  of 
wounded  pride  for  having  placed 
himself  on  the  rightful  rung  of  the 
ladder  of  standards  which  his  in- 
come indicates,  but  this  will  not  be 
as  serious  or  as  hard  to  cure  as  an 
acute  or  chronic  case  of  financial 
distress.  There  are  many  saving 
graces  to  offset  rigid  economies,  and 
the  person  who  succeeds  in  bud- 
getary matters  can  attain  his  goal 
and  live  within  his  income,  for 
that's  what  the  budget  says  to  do. 


It's  best  to  heed  its  warning  at  all 
times,  but  especially  so  in  these 
uncertain  days. 

One  more  satisfaction  that  bud- 
geting makes  possible  is  thei  ac- 
cumulation of  a  few  savings. 
Savings  spent  for  travel  or  in 
gaining  some  long  desired  experi- 
ence may  bring  lasting  satisfaction 
as  a  means  of  enriching  your  life. 
Rational  economy,  and  neither 
hoarding  nor  unnecessary  stinting, 
is  the  thing  that  is  needed  at  this 
time.  So,  if  you  can  succeed  in  sav- 
ing some  money,  why  not  put  it  to 
the  best  use  that  you  can  possibly 
imagine?  Would  it  not  be  splen- 
did if  everyone  could  plan  a  budget 
which  would  enable  him  to  know 
financial  peace  and  to  realize  some 
dream  of  happiness! 


^Governor  C.  Ben  Ross- 


days,  when  he  wanted  to  be  the 
governor,  has  developed  into  the 
fighting  zeal  of  a  man  who  wants 
to  go  on  serving  his  people;  who 
has  advanced  into  the  position  of 
doing  it   through   sheer   ambition 


Continued  from 
page  344 


and  determination,  and  by  exercis- 
ing the  qualities  he  was  bom  with. 
But  nobody  has  a  monopoly  on 
those  qualities,  and  that  is  what 
Governor  Ross  tells  young  people 
whenever  he  gets  the  chance. 


(LAaronic  rriesthood 


361 


Sacrament  Service  in  Highland  Park  Ward,  Granite  Stake 


Highland  Park  Ward  Sacra- 
ment Service 

By  EARL  JAY  GLADE,  JR. 

WHITE  shirts  and  black  bow 
ties  play  an  important  part 
in  the  sacrament  system  of 
the  Highland  Park  Ward  of 
Granite  Stake.  Dark  trousers  complete 
the  boy's  costumes.  This  has  been  the 
customary  Sunday  attire  of  the  younger 
Lesser  Priesthood  members  in  this  ward 
for  over  four  years. 

The  immediate  reason  for  adopting 
this  uniform  dress  was  to  do  away  with 
the  motley  array  of  vividly  colored 
sweaters,  seldom  pressed  coats,  and 
shirt  sleeves  of  varying  degrees  of  color 
and  cleanliness. 

No  opposition  was  found  in  intro- 
ducing the  plan.  The  boys  were  con- 
sulted one  Sunday.  A  week  later  eigh- 
teen of  their  number  turned  out  prop- 
erly attired.  The  ward  members  at 
once  expressed  their  approval.  Parents 
of  sons  who  were  not  properly  equip- 
ped, provided  white  shirts  and  black 
ties  immediately. 

Younger  boys  in  the  ward  wait  anx- 
iously for  their  twelfth  birthdays  so 
they  can  take  part  in  the  passing  of  the 
sacrament.  Many  of  them  appear  in 
their  shirts  and  ties  long  before  they 
are  eligible  for  ordination.  In  some 
cases,  when  a  boy  is  financially  unable 
to  get  the  required  clothing,  the  ward 
Relief  Society  has  cooperated. 

The  system  of  passing  the  sacra- 
ment in  Highland  Park  Ward,  has  a 
number  of  additional  features.  The 
18  or  20  deacons  who  pass  are  ar- 
ranged according  to  their  height 
around  the  sacrament  table.  Each  dea- 
con is  assigned  a  definite  section.  This 
is  done  in  such  a  way  that  they  all 
finish  their  sections  at  the  same  time. 
Arriving  at  their  positions,  the  dea- 
cons stand  at  attention  until  the  signal 
is  given  by  the  supervisor.  When  all 
are  through  the  signal  is  again  given 
and  the  deacons  return  to  the  Sacra- 
ment table. 

An  important  result  of   the  white 


shirt-black  tie  system  has  been  a  no- 
ticeable increase  of  boys  in  attendance 
at  Sunday  School,  and  Sacrament  meet- 
ing and  in  the  number  participating  in 
the  passing  of  the  sacrament.  The 
members  of  the  ward  have  expressed 
themselves  as  being  greatly  impressed 
with  the  sacredness  of  the  ordinance  by 
the  solemnity  of  administration. 

The  deacons  have  been  encouraged 
by  many  prominent  church  leaders  who 
have  visited  the  Ward  and  expressed 
their  approval  of  their  method  of  con- 
ducting  the  sacrament  service. 

The  four  deacons'  quorums  com- 
pete for  an  annual  award  which  is  pre- 
sented by  the  bishop.  The  award  is 
made  on  a  point  basis.  Points  are 
given  by  the  supervisor  for  attendance 
at  Sunday  School  and  sacrament  meet- 
ing, filling  assignments  (passing  sac- 
rament, speaking,  praying,  lesson  par- 
ticipation) ,  behavior,  etc. 

Quorum  officers  have  charge  of  their 
meetings,  making  of  assignments  and 
seeing  that  they  are  filled.  The  class 
leaders  supervise  these  activities.  These 
leaders  are  James  Hodgson,  Jack  Sal- 
mon, Dr.  J.  T.  Robinson  and  Charles 
Burnette. 

The  ward  Lesser  Priesthood  commit- 
tee has  an  office  in  the  chapel  basement 
where  the  records  are  kept  and  meetings 
are  held. 

Ward  Teaching  and  Public 
Speaking  Urged  by  Priests 

Thoughts  Suggested 

By  BISHOP  DAVID  A.  SMITH 

TT  is  the  duty  of  the  Priest  to  preach, 
teach,  exhort,  and  baptize.  Occa- 
sionally, the  question  is  raised  as  to 
the  wisdom  of  placing  such  a  respon- 
sibility upon  young  men  between  1 7 
and  20  years  of  age.  If  we  turn  to 
section  84  of  the  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants, we  find  that  the  Aaronic  Priest- 
hood is  a  preparatory  Priesthood,  that 
according  to  the  plan  of  the  Priesthood, 
those  holding  the  higher  Priesthood  are 
instructed  to  send  before  them,  the  les- 


ser priests  to  prepare  the  way  for  them. 

Some  remarkable  incidents,  as  a  re- 
sult of  literally  carrying  out  this  in- 
struction, are  coming  to  the  attention 
of  the  Presiding  Bishopric.  Through 
the  present  plan  of  correlating  our 
work,  the  spirit  of  service  is  growing. 
We  feel  more  than  ever  before  that  the 
greatest  protection  which  can  come  to  a 
young  man  is  to  have  placed  upon 
him  some  responsibility  which  requires 
of  him  not  only  studious  thought,  but 
action.  Anything  that  will  help  cause 
these  young  men  to  realize  that  God 
is  the  Father  of  all,  is  in  reality  our 
Father,  whom  we  may  approach  when 
we  have  learned  the  meaning  of  the 
Gospel  message,  with  every  assurance 
that  we  may  converse  with  Him  and 
receive  a  reply  to  our  supplication  is  de- 
sirable. To  do  this,  we  must,  of  course, 
so  live  that  we  arc  susceptible  to  the 
actions  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  moves 
upon  us  in  devious  ways  and  helps  to 
control  our  actions,  our  thoughts,  our 
habits,  in  harmony  with  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Gospel.  If  not,  there  must 
be  some  discord,  and  where  there  is 
discord,  there  can  be  no  communica- 
tion with  our  Heavenly  Father. 

With  these  facts  before  the  young 
man  and  clearly  understood,  he  is 
equipped  to  enter  the  homes  of  mem- 
bers of  the  church  to  there  kneel  in 
prayer  with  them,  to  deliver  a  simple 
message,  reminding  them  of  the  acti- 
vities of  the  ward  in  which  he  re- 
sides, and  of  which  he  is  at  the  time 
a  representative.  If  members  of  a 
family  are  neglecting  their  duties,  a 
kind  invitation  to  join  with  those  who 
are  engaged  in  such  activities  will  ac- 
complish more  than  to  remind  de- 
linquent members  of  their  delinquency. 
Such  action  on  the  part  of  a  young 
man  will  develop  the  spirit  of  toler- 
ance, of  brotherly  love,  and  such  a 
visit  is  bound  to  leave  that  same  feeling 
in  the  home,  and  thus  they  preach  not 
through  sermons,  but  through  actions 
which  are  sermons  without  words. 

If  this  Aaronic  Priesthood  is  a  pre- 
paratory priesthood;  if  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  Priest  to  preach,  teach,  exhort, 
and  baptize,  is  it  not  the  duty  of  all 
officers  to  provide  a  means  for  such 
training,  and  the  duty  of  church  mem- 
bers to  look  upon  such  efforts  in  a 
spirit  of  appreciation  and  kindness? 
To  assist  both  ward  officers  and  young 
men  called  to  this  office,  a  course  of 
study  for  the  Priests  has  been  arranged 
to  provide  a  sermon  for  each  Sabbath 
sacramental  meeting.  The  subject 
matter  is  not  extensive.  It  is  not  ex- 
pected that  they  speak  for  more  than 
five  minutes,  and  where  this  is  being 
done,   young   men  of  the  church  are 


362 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


not  only  developing  through  this  ex- 
perience afforded  them,  the  art  of  ad- 
dressing a  congregation,  but  every 
speech  delivered  helps  to  establish  in 
the  soul  of  the  young  man  so  favored, 
if  his  efforts  have  been  received  kind- 
ly, a  desire  to  increase  his  powers  to 
do  and  thus  he  is  unconsciously  de- 
veloping faith  and  a  knowledge  of  Gos- 
pel principles,  which  go  before  him  as 
a  guiding  star  all  his  days. 

The  Priesthood  meeting  is  the  train- 
ing school.  Here  he  should  discuss  these 
problems  with  his  associates.  He 
should  ask  questions  on  matters  he  does 
not  understand,  and  he  should  be  ever 
ready  to  give  others  the  benefit  of  his 
knowledge.  And  so  if  we  follow  day 
by  day  the  Lord's  plan,  we  are  led  in 
our  youth  to  the  fountain  of  knowl- 
edge, which  gives  strength  not  only  to 
the  mind,  but  to  the  body,  and  power 
to  withstand  the  ravages  of  a  tem- 
poral world  destined  to  decay. 

Use  of  Lesson  Outlines 

"C^VERY  quorum  of  Aaronic  Priest- 
hood  in  the  Church  is  urged  to 
use  the  lesson  outlines  prepared  by  the 
Presiding  Bishopric.  These  outlines 
contain  the  complete  program  for 
training  young  men  in  Priesthood  ac- 
tivity. In  wards  where  the  quorum 
meeting  is  merged  with  the  Sunday 
School  class,  if  the  Sunday  School  les- 
son is  used  instead  of  the  Priesthood 
lesson  each  quorum  member  should  be 
urged  to  secure  the  quorum  lesson  out- 
line and  the  lessons  should  be  assigned 
each  week  by  the  supervisor  for  home 
reading.  It  is  important  that  every 
quorum  supervisor  have  the  lesson  out- 
line as  it  contains  instructions  and 
suggestions  for  carrying  forward  the 
quorum  work. 

Outstanding  Success  in  the 
Correlation  Plan 

By  PHILO  T.  FARNSWORTH, 

Chairman    Aaronic   Priesthood   Com- 
mittee of  Grant  Stake 

T  AM  reminded  of  a  class  of  mid- 
shipmen  at  a  naval  academy  who 
were  taking  examinations.  The  ques- 
tion had  been  placed  on  the  board. 
One  boy  looked  at  it,  wrote  hastily  on 
his  paper  and  handed  it  in.  The  in- 
structor had  been  watching  him  and 
shook  his  head,  thinking  that  the  boy 
must  not  have  given  the  question  mucli 
attention.  The  question  was:  "Why 
did  the  Spanish  Armada  fail?"  The 
boy  had  answered  the  question  as  fol- 
lows: "The  Spanish  Armada  failed 
because  it  lacked  three  ships — mark- 
manship,  seamanship  and  leadership." 
The  work  in  which  you  are  engaged  is 
dependent  upon  its  success  for  leader- 
ship. If  there  has  been  anything  ac- 
complished in  Grant  Stake,  it  has  been 


because  of  the  leadership  we  have  had. 
We  have  a  united  stake  presidency  back 
of  the  correlation  work.  We  have  a 
second  counselor  in  the  presidency  who 
eats,  breathes,  sleeps  and  dreams  cor- 
relation work.  No  small  share  of  our 
success  is  due  to  the  stake  correlation 
secretary.  Brother  Leonard  Aamodt 
has  been  untiring  in  seeing  that  the 
reports  are  prepared  and  sent  in.  The 
bishops  of  our  wards  have  been  out- 
standing in  their  support  of  this  work. 
I  have  outlined  six  items  that  seem 
to  be  paramount  in  the  success  of  this 
work. 

First,  we  attempted  to  organize,  to 
bring  our  boy  leadership  together,  to 
inform  them  and  to  convert  them,  if 
need  be,  to  this  work.  In  these  meet- 
ings we  have  attempted  to  bring  in- 
spiration to  them.  We  have  tried  to 
follow  the  plan  of  organization  printed 
in  the  Deseret  News  on  January  22, 
1932. 

As  the  second  principle,  we  have  set 
out  to  get  the  facts.  The  surveys  we 
have  made  have  been  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  us  information.  We  found 
out  that  181  boys  in  our  stake  have  not 
been  ordained  to  any  office  in  the  Priest- 
hood. This  is  an  appalling  thing.  We 
spend  thousands  of  dollars  to  send  mis- 
sionaries abroad  to  convert  others  but 
we  have  in  our  own  back  yard  a  fruit- 
ful field.  We  have  given  the  names  of 
these  181  boys  to  our  bishops  and  they 
are  working  with  them.  We  found  out 
that  some  48%  of  our  Priesthood 
groups  are  over  age.  We  found  by  go- 
ing to  Scout  headquarters  that  we  had 
356  Scouts  registered.  Brother  Nich- 
oUs,  who  has  been  in  charge  of  our 
Scout  work,  said,  when  the  facts  were 
presented  to  him:  "I  never  believed 
that  this  condition  existed  in  our  stake. 
It  seemed  to  me  that  every  boy  was  in 
Scouting.  There  are  660  boys  who  are 
not  in  Scouting." 

As  the  third  principle,  we  have 
brought  our  groups  together.    We  have 


Evidence 

By  Alberta  Huish   Christensen 

/I PRIL,  are  you  here  again? 
•^         I  think  it  must  be  true, — 
Who  else  could  rouse  the  torpid  sap 
From  somnolence,  but  you? 

Who  else  could  lure  the  linnet  back. 
Could  put  the  frost  to  flight, 

Or  clothe  in  perfumed  loveliness 
The  plum  hedge  overnight? 

April,  you  ARE  here  again,  .  .  . 

Deep  streams  once  more  are  blue, 
Who  could  release  their  ice-bound  lips 

To  chant  again,  but  you? 

In  furrowed  loam  seeds  throb  with  life, 
Who  else  could  bid  them  grow? 

Who  else  could  lift  from  stifled  hearts 
The  winter's  burdening  snow? 


attempted  to  show  the  Sunday  School, 
the  Mutual  and  Aaronic  Priesthood 
groups  what  their  responsibility  is  and 
how  they  can  approach  these  boys. 

Fourth,  we  have  gone  forward  to  su- 
pervise, visit  and  encourage  the  men  in 
the  various  wards.  Men  on  the  Stake 
Sunday  School  Board  were  asked  to 
visit  and  help  their  wards,  and  to  return 
to  the  stake  the  information  they  had 
obtained.  The  Scout  men  and  the 
Aaronic  Priesthood  men  bring  in  their 
information. 

As  a  fifth  principle,  we  have  at- 
tempted to  put  over  a  leadership  train- 
ing course  in  these  meetings.  We  have 
attempted  to  show  what  individual  and 
"case"  work  really  is;  that  some  of 
these  boys  have  had  a  mental  upset; 
that  there  may  be  economic  conditions; 
that  in  some  cases  indifference  on  the 
part  of  the  boys  may  be  due  to  some 
unkind  response  on  the  part  of  the 
leader.  We  have  urged  our  men  to 
take  advantage  of  the  specialization 
courses  of  the  Scouts. 

And  sixth,  we  plan  in  future  visits 
and  at  correlation  meetings  to  follow 
up  the  information. 

If  we  have  had  any  success,  it  has 
been  largely  because  we  have  attempted 
to  follow  the  plan  proposed  by  our 
presiding  officers  which  we  think  is  the 
most  worthwhile  we  have  any  knowl- 
edge of  for  the  guidance  of  youth  from 
12  to  20. 

April  in  Church  History 

A  PRIL  is  rich  in  church  anniversa- 
ries.  It  is  the  belief  of  many  that 
April  6th  is  not  only  the  anniversary 
of  the  organization  of  the  Church  and 
several  other  important  events  in  church 
history,  but  that  two  other  extremely 
important  events  occurred  on  that  date 
namely,  the  birth  of  the  Savior  and 
Joseph  Smith's  first  vision.  In  secular 
history  Peary  discovered  the  north  pole 
and  the  United  States  entered  the  world 
war,  to  mention  but  two  outstanding 
events.  Other  important  events  of  in- 
terest to  young  men  of  the  Church  are 
listed  here. 

April  12,  1807,  Parley  P.  Pratt 
born,  Burlington,  Vermont. 

April  5,  1829,  Joseph  Smith  and 
Oliver  Cowdery  first  met. 

April  6,  1830,  Our  Church  was  or- 
ganized at  Fayette,  Seneca  County, 
New  York.  First  Elders  were  ordained. 

April  11,  1830,  Oliver  Cowdery 
delivered  first  public  sermon  on  the 
restored  gospel. 

April  14,  1832,  Brigham  Young 
was  baptized  at  Mendon,  New  York. 

April  23,  1839,  Site  of  Nauvoo, 
(then  Commerce)  was  selected  to  be- 
come headquarters  of  the  church, 

April  6,  1841,  Corner  stone  of  Nau- 
voo Temple  laid. 

April  2,  1843,  Joseph  Smith  made 
second  prophecy  regarding  Civil  War 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


363 


— that  it  would  be  caused  by  slavery 
and  begin  at  South  Carolina. 

April  5,  1847,  Advance  company 
of  "Mormon"  pioneers  left  Winter 
Quarters  for  "Upper  California,"  now 
Utah. 

April  14,  1847,  Brigham  Young 
and  official  party  of  leaders  left  Win- 
ter Quarters  for  west. 

April  6,  1853,  Corner  stone  of  Salt 
Lake  Temple  laid. 

April  7,  1860,  First  Pony  Express 
from  west  reached  Salt  Lake. 

April  9,  i860,  First  Pony  Express 
from  east  reached  Salt  Lake. 

April  14,  1879,  Corner  stone  of 
Manti  Temple  laid. 

April  8,  1889,  Wilford  Woodruff 
became  President  of  the  Church. 

April  6,  1893,  Salt  Lake  Temple 
dedicated. 

Prepare  Now  for  Aaronic 
Priesthood  Day 

\4"AY  15,  1829,  the  Aaronic  Priest- 
hood  was  restored  in  this  dispen- 
sation. Sunday,  May  14,  1933,  has 
been  designated  as  the  day  for  observ- 
ing the  anniversary  of  this  important 
event.  It  is  suggested  that  Bishops 
and  Counselors  and  Ward  Supervisors 
of  the  Aaronic  Priesthood  begin  at 
once  to  prepare  for  this  event.  Boys' 
choruses  should  be  organized  wherever 
possible,  rehearsing  appropriate  songs. 
Books  of  Remembrance  should  be  com- 
pleted as  far  as  possible  and  ready  for 
the  exhibit  planned  in  each  ward  as 
outlined  in  the  Lesson  Books  for 
Aaronic  Priesthood  quorums.  The 
complete  program  suggested  by  the 
Presiding  Bishopric  will  be  sent  out 
shortly  and  will  be  published  in  the 
Era  for  May. 

Thumbnail  Sketches  of 
Church  History 

Organization  of  the  Church 

npHE  Church  (afterwards  named  by 
revelation  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints)  was  or- 
ganized according  to  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  April  6,  1830, 
in  the  house  of  Peter  Whitmer,  sen.,  at 
Fayette,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  six 
members,  namely,  Joseph  Smith,  jun., 
Oliver  Cowdery,  Hyrum  Smith,  Peter 
Whitmer,  jun.,  Samuel  H.  Smith  and 
David  Whitmer.  Joseph  Smith,  jun., 
and  Oliver  Cowdery  ordained  each 
other  Elders — the  first  Elders  in  the 
Church — according  to  commandment 
from  God.  They  then  laid  hands  on 
all  the  baptized  members  present,  "that 
they  might  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  be  confirmed  members  of 
the  Church."  The  Holy  Ghost  was 
poured  out  upon  them  "to  a  very  great 
degree."      Some   prophesied   and    "all 


praised  the  Lord  and  rejoiced  exceed- 
ingly." 

"The  Church  was  commanded  by 
revelation  to  keep  a  record,  and  Joseph 
Smith,  jun.,  was  named  by  the  Lord  a 
Seer,  a  Revelator,  a  Prophet,  an  Apos- 
tle of  Jesus  Christ,  etc.  (Doc.  and 
Cov.,  Sec.  20.) 

"Soon  after  the  organization  of  the 
Church  the  Prophet's  parents  (Joseph 
Smith,  sen.,  and  Lucy  Smith),  Martin 
Harris  and  A.  Rockwell  were  bap- 
tized. 

"Some  persons  who  had  been  bap- 
tized in  the  sectarian  denominations 
desired  to  join  the  Church  without 
further  baptism,  but  the  Lord,  by  rev- 
elation through  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  instructed  them  to  enter  in  at 
the  gate,  as  He  had  commanded,  and 
not  seek  to  counsel  God."  (Doc.  and 
Cov.,  Sec.  22.) 

Since  the  date  upon  which  the 
Church  was  organized,  more  light  has 
been  poured  out  upon  the  world  than 
in  hundreds  of  years  of  previous  world 
history  and  more  progress  has  been 
made  scientifically,  industrially,  so- 
cially and  religiously.  Among  future 
generations  of  the  world  this  date  will 
undoubtedly  stand  out  as  an  important 
one  in  world  History. 

Aaronic  Priesthood 
Organization  Gains 

"TOURING  the  past  year  more  than 
"^  200  additional  members  have 
been  added  to  Stake  Aaronic  Priest- 
hood Committees  as  a  result  of  the 
organization  campaign  conducted  by 
(the  Presiding  Bishopric.  This  is  an 
increase  of  50  per  cent. 

Ward  supervisors  have  been  in- 
creased by  more  than  200,  bringing 
the  total  to  approximately  650  wards 
now  conducting  Aaronic  Priesthood 
work,  with  supervisors  assisting  the 
bishopric. 

During  this  year  a  plan  of  intensive 
leadership  training  is  being  carried  out 
for  the  purpose  of  assisting  these  new 
members  of  stake  and  ward  committees 
lin  becoming  acquainted  with  their 
work. 


Resignation 

By  Juanita  Pulsipher 

/BRUISED  my  wings  on  convention's 
bars, 
I  longed  to  be  free,  to  aspire,  to  soar, 
To  move,  if  I  could,  among  the  stars. 
But  my  brief  flight  of  song  was  quickly 

spent ; 
It  left  in  my  heart  neither  peace  nor  con- 
tent. 

A  cage  is  so  sheltered,  so  safe,  so  secure. 


The  Priesthood  Class 
Exercise 

SUGGESTIONS   TO   SUPER- 
VISORS 

'npHE  class  exercise  is  divided  into 
two  periods. —  (a)  Activity  and 
(b)  Lesson  work.  The  first  period, 
that  of  the  preliminary  exercises  and 
checking  of  duties  performed  and  to 
be  performed,  is  of  vital  importance 
and  should  be  given  first  consideration 
each  week.  It  may  require,  with  prop- 
er system,  about  fifteen  minutes  time. 
Following  the  review  of  activities  the 
second  period,  that  of  lesson  work, 
should  follow.  About  twenty  to  thir- 
ty minutes  should  be  available,  depend- 
ing upon  the  time  allotted  to  quorum 
work. 

When  the  various  quorums  separate 
following  the  opening  exercises  they 
should  carry  out  the  class  exercises  un- 
der the  presidency  of  the  quorum  with 
the  direct  guidance  of  the  supervisor. 
and  under  the  general  direction  of  a 
member  of  the  bishopric.  If  there  be 
more  than  one  quorum,  each  quorum 
should  meet  separately  with  a  super- 
visor for  each  quorum. 

The  bishop's  counselor  should  act 
in  an  advisory  capacity  with  the  quo- 
rum presidency  in  carrying  out  the 
order  of  business  in  the  class  and  in 
discussing  such  items  of  instruction  as 
may  be  desirable.  He  should,  of  course, 
take  charge  of  the  ordination  of  any 
member.  The  supervisor  should  co- 
operate with  the  presidency  in  making 
assignments  of  duties  and  following  up 
the  same,  in  promoting  attendance  and 
in  social  activities.  He  should  take 
charge  of  the  lesson  work. 

A  suggested  order  of  business  to  be 
followed  by  the  quorum  presidency 
during  the  thirty  to  forty -five  minutes 
allotted  for  this  work  is  as  follows: 

(a)  Activity  Period: 

1 .  Prayer. 

2.  Roll  Call. 

3.  Consider  ways  of  increasing 
attendance  of  absent  mem- 
bers. 

4.  Report  on  assignment  of  du- 
ties performed, 

5.  Assignment  of  duties  for  en- 
suing week. 

6.  Social  and  fraternal  activi- 
ties. 

7.  Any  instruction  by  member 
of  bishopric.  (15  minutes, 
more  or  less.) 

(b)  Lesson  Period: 

Lesson  work  under  direction 
of  supervisor.  (20  to  30  min- 
utes.) 
Increasing  Attendance.     Every  effort 
should  be  made  to  account  for  the  ab- 
sence of  any  member.     The  supervisor 
and  the  quorum  presidency,  with  the 
cooperation    of   the    members,    should 
adopt  such  measures  as  will  insure  the 
best   attendance   and    the   greatest   in- 
terest. 


364 


MlUinUAIL  MESSAGES 


Executive  Departmem\ 


General  Superintendency 
Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 

GEORGE   ALBERT   SMITH, 
RICHARD  R.  LYMAN, 
MELVIN'  J.  BALLARD, 


Executive  Secretary: 
OSCAR  A. 


KIRKHAM 


Send  all  Correspondence  to  Committees  Direct  to  General  •■Offices 

General  Offices  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 

47  EAST  SOUTH  TEMPLE  STREET 

General  Offices  Y.  L.  M.  I.  A. 

33    BISHOP'S   BUILDING 
SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


General  Presidency 
Y.  L.  M.  I.  A. 

RUTH  MAY  FOX, 
LUCY  GRANT  CANNON, 
CLARISSA  A.  BEESLEY. 

General  Secretary: 

ELSIE  HOGAN 


So.  Davis  Stake 

ONE  of  the  best  plans  ever  used 
in  South  Davis  Stake  for  the 
encouragement  of  participa- 
tion in  drama  by  inexperienced 
members  was  tried  out  during  the 
past  few  weeks.  The  play  "Stoves" 
was  chosen,  casts  to  be  made  up  en- 
tirely of  those  who  had  had  no  pre- 
vious experience  on  the  stage,  and 
directed  by  inexperienced  directors. 
All  wards  agreed  to  join,  with  the 
result  that  three  of  the  eight  wards 
had  eliminations  of  three,  two  and  two 
casts  respectively.  The  remaining 
wards  had  but  one  cast.  Because  some 
wards  objected  to  the  contest  feature, 
it  was  decided  to  present  the  plays  in 
demonstration,  with  competent  people 
invited  to  see  the  plays  and  give  con- 
structive criticism.  The  results  of  this 
project  were  many  and  varied,  but 
most  interesting.  Seventy-eight  peo- 
ple participated  in  the  performances, 
and  the  fact  that  none  of  them  had  ap- 
peared on  the  stage  before  gave  con- 
fidence to  all.  One  result  of  it  has  been 
that  some  individuals  who  had  not  had 
courage  to  enter  in  contest  plays,  have 
tried  out  with  the  others,  and  are  on 
their  way  toward  some  interesting  ex- 
perience on  the  stage. 

Gold  and  Green  Balls 


Reports  from  the  Field 

El  Paso  Ward 

The  Gold  and  Green  Ball  of  El  Paso 
ward  proved  to  be  a  most  successful  af- 
fair. The  Contest  dance  was  demon- 
strated before  a  large  crowd  in  a  hall 
beautifully  decorated  in  the  M.  I.  A. 
colors.  Gold  and  green  refreshments 
were  served,  and  an  excellent  time  was 
had  by  all. 

Great  Falls 

The  Gold  and  Green  Ball  at  Great 
Falls,  Montana,  was  a  most  delightful 
aifair,  many  young  people  attending, 
and  a  most  interesting  evening  being 
spent.  The  hall  was  decorated  in  the 
colors  of  the  organization,  and  excel- 
lent music  was  a  feature  of  the  occa- 
sion. A  queen  was  selected  and 
crowned,  then  presented  with  a  great 
bouquet  of  flowers.  All  voted  the 
affair  most  successful. 


T 


Sacramento  District 

HE  Gold  and  Green  Ball  has  become 
one  of  the  outstanding  social 
events  of  the  city;  this  year  it  was  held 
in  one  of  the  finest  halls  of  the  town, 
commodious,  charming  in  appoint- 
ment, and  beautifully  decorated.  More 
than  500  people  were  present,  and  the 
entire  affair  was  characterized  by  an 
atmosphere  of  excellence  in  conduct 
and  buoyancy  of  spirit.  Following 
the  ball,  several  non-members  of  the 
Church  made  favorable  and  enthusi- 
astic comment  on  the  success  of  the 
function,  observing  especially  the  ab- 
sence of  tobacco,  liquor  and  unrefined 
behavior.  It  was  one  of  the  best 
balls  ever  held  in  the  district. 


Union  Ward 

The  Gold  and  Green  Ball,  held  at  La 
Grande,  Oregon,  attracted  the  largest 
crowd  which  has  gathered  in  any  so- 
cial activity  this  sea,son.  The  hall 
was  attractively  decorated,  a  false  ceil- 
ing of  green  and  gold  streamers  being 
suspended  between  chandeliers  and  bal- 
cony, and  small  Japanese  lanterns  being 
hung  profusely.  The  orchestra  played 
from  a  gold  and  green  bower  on  the 
stage.  The  queen,  chosen  from  a  num- 
ber of  gold-and-green-gowned  girls,^ 
was  presented  with  a  bouquet  of  daf- 
fodils. The  Contest  dance  was  dem- 
onstrated as  a  feature  of  the  evening. 

Palmyra  Stake 

About  800  people  attended  the  Pal- 
myra Stake  Gold  and  Green  Ball,  and 
unusual  success  followed.  The  spe- 
cial feature  was  a  demonstration   for 


Queen  and  Attendants,  Gold  and  Green  Ball,  Spokane,  Washington 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


365 


San  Diego  "Heart  of  a  Rose" 


each  month  in  the  year — Passing  of  the 
Old  Year  and  Entering  of  the  New;  a 
red  heart  opening  to  admit  George  and 
Martha  Washington  (in  miniature) 
who  danced  the  Minuet;  a  couple  in 
Irish  costume  dancing  the  Irish  Jig; 
Flowers,  sleeping,  wakened  by  the 
warm  rays  of  April  sunshine;  Queen 
of  the  May;  fishing  trip;  Uncle  Sam 
and  Goddess  of  Liberty;  Beach  Picnic; 
Queen  of  Autumn  leaves.  Labor  Day, 
commencement  of  school  from  begin- 
ners to  college  (this  won  the  prize) 
an  enormous  pumpkin  carrying  an  Au- 
tumn fairy  scattering  leaves;  Armis- 
tice; burlesque  on  M.  I.  A.  Stake  Board 
Xmas  Tree.  Another  feature  was  a 
demonstration  of  the  Gold  and  Green 
contest  dance,  which  added  interest  to 
the  affair. 

Fremont  Stake 

The  Gold  and  Green  Ball  of  the 
Fremont  Stake  for  this  year  was  ad- 
vertised as  the  biggest  social  event  of 
the  season,  and  its  realization  surpassed 
all  expectations. 

The  pavilion  was  decorated  beau- 
tifully, the  ceiling  being  cobwebbed 
with  shaded  tints  of  gold  and  green 
and  a  large  gold  and  green  chandelier 
was  hanging  in  the  center.  Pots  of 
flowers  were  placed  artistically  around 
the  hall  and  the  windows  were  cur- 
tained with  gold  and  green  drapes. 

A  demonstration  of  the  Gold  and 
Green  fox-trot  was  given  during  in- 
termission. The  four  wards  of  Rex- 
burg  and  the  Sugar  and  Teton  Wards 
were  represented.  It  was  a  thrilling  and 
beautiful  sight  to  see  the  many  couples 
moving  in  the  rhythmical  measures  of 
this  dance.  The  original  Stake  dance 
was  also  demonstrated. 

The  music  was  furnished  by  a  lo- 
cal ten  piece  orchestra. 

A  large  crowd  attended  the  dance 
and  it  resulted  in  a  financial  success 
as  well  as  a  social  one. 


South  Sevier' Stake 

The  annual  Gold  and  Green  Ball  of 
the  South  Sevier  Stake  was  held  Fri- 
day, Jan.  27th,  in  the  Stake  Pavilion 
at  Monroe  under  the  direction  and  man- 
agement of  the  M.  I.  A.  Stake  Presiden- 
cies. 

The  building  was  beautifully  deco- 
rated in  gold  and  green,  and  formed  a 
very  appropriate  background  for  the 
huge  crowd  which  filled  it  almost  to 
capacity.  It  is  estimated  that  over 
nine  hundred  people  attended  this  func- 
tion. A  queen  and  attendants  were 
chosen.  Ten  couples  from  the  dif- 
ferent wards  demonstrated  the  contest 
dance  adding  to  the  evening's  entertain- 
ment and  success. 

Saturday  night,  Jan.  28th,  from  sev- 
en to  ten  o'clock  the  Junior  Gold  and 
Green  Ball  was  held  in  the  same  place 
and  under  the  same  direction  and  man- 
agement. 

This    was    the    outstanding    social 


event  for  the  young  people  from 
twelve  to  fourteen  years  old  of  the 
Stake. 

They  also  had  their  queens  chosen 
from  the  six  wards  represented.  The 
contest  dance  was  demonstrated  here 
also.  The  dances  were  well  conducted 
and  the  officers  in  charge  are  to  be 
congratulated  on  the  success  of  the 
two  evening's  entertainment. 

San  Diego  District 
The  annual  Gold  and  Green  Ball 
was  held  in  the  10th  street  auditorium 
in  San  Diego  as  a  district  affair,  all 
three  branches  participating.  Each 
branch  presented  some  idea  pertain- 
ing to  Mutual  Work.  The  three 
groups  were  announced  by  fanfare,  af- 
ter which  a  Page  dressed  in  a  court 
costume  of  green,  announced  the  three 
groups  and  their  ideas. 

San  Diego  won  first  place  with  "The 
Heart  of  a  Rose"  idea.  A  huge  rose  of 
gold  crepe  paper  was  constructed  on 
a  platform  on  casters.  The  stem  ot 
the  rose  formed  a  handle.  Two  at- 
tendants gowned  in  green  garden  dress- 
es brought  in  the  rose  in  which  was 
seated  the  Queen.  Before  the  group 
appeared,  six  young  girls  sang  the  re- 
frain, "In  the  Heart  of  a  Rose."  This 
music  accompanied  the  group  around 
the  hall,  during  which  time  the  Rose 
opened  and  the  Queen  revealed  herself 
as  the  heart  of  pure  gold. 

East  San  Diego  presented  the  Era 
idea.  A  hand-painted  replica  of  the 
January  issue  formed  the  cover  of  a 
book,  which,  when  opened,  revealed 
a  blank  page.  The  page  was  torn  by 
a  Boy  Scout  and  out  of  it  stepped  a 
little  girl  dressed  as  a  Bee,  represent- 
ing the  Bee-Hive  organizations.  She 
was  followed  by  the  queen,  who  ap- 
peared in  a  quaint  ruiBed  dress  of  green 
and  carried  a  bouquet  of  gold  roses. 
The  queen's  attendants  were  dressed  in 
gold.  One  carried  a  plaque  with  the 
slogan  and  the  other  an  Era. 


Gold  and  Green  Queen  and  Attendants,  Oquirrh  Stake 


366 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


Queen  of  Gold  and   Green  Ball, 
Le  Grande  Ward,  Union  Stake 

Logan  Heights  very  effectively  treat- 
ed part  of  the  slogan,  "We  Stand  for 
Enrichment  of  Life."  The  queen,  in 
a  formal  gown  of  green  satin  was  pre- 
ceded by  a  toddling  lad  of  three  repre- 
senting 1933.  A  bower  of  green  fern 
with  gold  roses  formed  a  canopy  over 
the  queen  and  was  carried  by  her  two 
attendants,  followed  by  two  Boy 
Scouts. 

While  awaiting  the  judges'  decision 
of  the  three  groups,  the  contest  dance 
was  demonstrated. 

The  Big  Horn  Stake 

The  Gold  and  Green  Ball  held  in 
this  Stake  was  a  very  successful  event. 


Gold  and  Green  Queen,  Sacramento 
Branch 


Although  the  largest  dancing  floor  in 
the  stake  was  used,  it  was  crowded  to 
capacity.  Approximately  six  hundred 
people  attended  the  dance. 

Every  detail  of  the  plan  had  been 
carefully  worked  out  by  the  committee 
in  charge  so  that  the  event  was  a  real 
triumph.  At  the  sound  of  a  trumpet 
each  main  feature  was  presented.  Four 
thrones  were  in  readiness  for  the  queens 
who  had  been  chosen  from  the  Gleaner 
class  of  each  ward.  The  queen  entered 
followed  by  her  attendants.  The  mem- 
bers of  her  ward  joined  in  a  march  led 
by  their  queen.  She  then  took  her 
throne  and  the  next  queen  entered. 

When  the  four  queens  had  been  pre- 
sented, the  gold  and  green  fox-trot 
was  given  in  their  honor.  Under  the 
direction  of  the  stake  dance  director, 
twenty  couples  participated  in  th2 
dance. 

The  success  of  the  evening  may  be 
attributed  to  the  loyal  cooperation 
which  the  ward  officers  are  giving  in 
carrying  out  a  stake  dancing  program. 
Our  greatest  difficulty  another  year  will 
be  to  find  a  hall  large  enough  to  ac- 
commodate the  crowd. 

Oquirrh  Stake 

The  annual  Gold  and  Green  Ball  of 
Oquirrh  Stake  was  held  in  the  Pleas- 
ant Green  Ward  recreation  hall,  attend- 
ed by  the  largest  crowd  present  at  a 
stake  affair  in  the  last  three  years. 
Features  of  the  evening  were  the  grand 
march  of  queen  and  escorts,  contest 
dance  demonstration  and  general  danc- 
ing. The  queen  was  chosen  by  points 
of  honor,  instead  of  popular  vote,  the 
points  being  based  as  follows: 

40%  for  ward  with  highest  per- 
centage of  attendance  at  M.  L  A. 

15%  for  ward  having  highest  per- 
centage  of  Era   subscriptions. 

15  %  for  ward  with  highest  percent- 
age of  officers  present  at  Dec.  Union 
meeting. 

15%  for  ward  with  highest  per- 
centage of  officers  present  at  Jan.  Union 
meeting. 

15%  for  ward  having  collected 
highest  percentage  of  M.  I.  A,  fund. 

The  Queen  was  selected  from  Pleas- 
ant Green  Ward. 

Wasatch  Stake 

For  the  Gold  and  Green  Ball  of  this 
stake  the  hall  and  throne  for  the  Queen 
were  colorful  in  the  M.  I.  A.  colors, 
with  flowers,  lamps  and  illuminated 
monogram  adding  to  the  general  effect. 
The  Gleaners,  Junior  Girls,  Bee-Hive 
Girls,  Vanguards  and  Scouts  had  a 
booth  in  which  to  display  their  work. 
As  the  queens  marched  in,  each  was 
given  a  corsage  bouquet,  after  which 
they  marched  to  the  throne  for  the 
crowning  of  the  Queen  of  Queens. 

The  demonstration  of  the  new  con- 
test dance  was  a  most  interesting  feat- 
ure, and  the  entire  affair  delightful. 


Queen   of   Gold   and    Green   Ball, 
Great  Falls,  Montana 


Bear  Lake  Stake  Music  Festival 

The  stake  tabernacle  was  filled  to 
capacity  at  the  Music  Festival  held  re- 
cently, approximately  1300  people 
being  present.  The  festival  was  a 
great  success,  and  the  directors  deserve 
the  highest  praise  for  their  efforts.  The 
chorus  work,  solos  and  instrumental 
work  was  most  delightful,  especially 
since  there  were  representatives  of  every 
ward  participating.  The  promise  given 
by  the  event  was  one  of  greater  musical 
activity  and  interest  in  this  stake. 


Queen  of  Gold   and  Green  Ball, 
El  Paso  Ward 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


367 


Stake  and  Ward  Officers  and 
Teachers,  and  Members  are 
Invited  to  send  in  Suggestions 
for  1933-34  Slogan. 

A  T  this  season  of  the  year  the  Gen- 
-^^  eral  Boards  of  the  M.  I.  A.  select 
the  slogan  to  be  used  by  the  Associa- 
tions during  the  following  year.  It 
has  been  suggested  that  superintendents 
and  presidents,  both  stake  and  ward, 
teachers  and  members  might  have  a 
desire  to  offer  suggestions.  All  those 
who  would  like  to  assist  in  building  a 
1933-34  slogan  arc  invited  to  send 
their  suggestions  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  General  M.  I.  A.  Board,  47  East 
South  Temple  St.,  Salt  Lakje  City, 
Utah,  on  or  before  May  1. 


Sunday  Evening  Joint 
Session — May 

/GENERAL  Subject:     The  Restora- 
^-^  tion. 

1.  Singing— "An  Angel  From  on 
High"  or  similar  hymn. 

2.  Prayer — A  Vanguard. 

3.  Singing — "What  Was  Witnessed 
in  the  Heavens,"  or  a  similar  hymn. 

4.  Presentation  of  the  Slogan. 

5.  Retold  Story  —  Vanguard  or 
Junior  Girl. 

6.  Testimony — -By  a  Junior  Girl — 
What  the  course — "Believing  and  Do- 
ing, and  the  Activity,  Have  Done  For 
Me."  See  Chap.  24,  Junior  Girl  Man- 
ual, especially  the  last  paragraph.  Five 
to  seven  minutes. 

7.  The  Lands  My  Parents  Came 
From  in  Answer  to  the  Gospel  Call — 
a  Junior  Girl.  Five  minutes.  For 
suggestion  sec  February  number,  1933, 
Improvement  Era,  page  242. 

8.  Special  Music,  instrumental  or 
vocal. 

9.  How  a  Young  Man  Views  the 
Restoration — A  Vanguard.  (Remem- 
ber that  Joseph  Smith  was  younger 
than  a  vanguard  at  the  time  of  his  first 
vision.  The  restoration  of  the  Gospel 
and  the  restoration  of  the  Priesthood 
may  both  be  mentioned.  See  Joseph 
Smith's  own  account  which  may  be 
had  free  by  sending  to  the  Presiding 
Bishop's  Office.) 

1 0.  Patterns  set  by  the  Prophet  Jos- 
eph Smith  for  Young  Men  to  Live  By 
— A  Vanguard. 

1 1.  Closing  Music. 

12.  Benediction. 

In  connection  with  No.  10  the 
Vanguard  speaker  could  mention  the 
Word  of  Wisdom  and  the  duties  of 
those  holding  the  Aaronic  Priesthood. 
Stories  of  the  young  man,  Nephi, 
might  also  be  told. 


Seniors 


Get  Acquainted 

/^NE  of  the  chief  objectives  of  the 
^^^  Senior  class  is  sociability,  an  en- 
larging of  acquaintanceship.  In  line 
with  this  objective  it  is  suggested  that 
the  Senior  classes  in  each  stake  join 
in  a  stake  Senior  social  or  Get  Acquaint- 
ed. At  the  earliest  possible  meeting,  ar- 
rangements should  be  made  and  officers 
selected  or  elected  to  carry  forward 
plans  for  your  stake  gathering.  Each 
ward  may  be  assigned  the  part  it  is  to 
take  and  a  suitable  place  be  chosen. 
You  will  of  course  be  guided  by  your 
facilities  in  the  stake  and  the  number 
of  Seniors  in  your  M.  I.  A.  May  pre- 
sents several  special  days  such  as  May 
Day,  Mothers'  Da'y,  and  Memorial 
Day,  but  any  day  chosen  by  the  Senior 
department  is  special  enough. 

Your  social  may  take  the  form  of  a 
dance,  a  party  of  progressive  games,  or 
if  the  latter  part  of  May  or  the  first 
of  June  is  chosen  it  might  well  be  a 
picnic  out-of-doors.  It  might  be  a 
hard-times  party  or  dance  or  an  almost 
formal  affair.  Be  sure  that  a  place  is 
chosen  which  can  'be  made  sociable 
and  attractive.  Then  let  your  Decora- 
tion committee,  your  Music  and  Pro- 
gram committees,  your  Refreshment 
committee  do  their  best.  Be  sure  that 
every  one  is  made  acquainted  and  that 
all  enjoy  themselves.  It  is  well  to 
feature  more  than  one  activity  if  your 
group  is  mixed. 

A  Spring  picnic  might  be  any 
amount  of  fun.  You  might  feature 
your  playground  baseball  and  have  a 
tournament.  Sign  up  your  ward  teams 
and  let  them  draw  for  opponents  and 
play  off  the  first  series  towards  a  stake 
Senior  baseball  championship  team. 
Other  events  might  be  featured  from 
the  Senior  program  as  volley  ball  or 
horseshoes.  Feature  the  picnic  as  much 
as  possible — hot  steak  and  rolls, 
weinies,  baked  beans,  hot  chocolate, 
things  which  will  not  be  too  great  a 
burden  either  by  way  of  expense  or 
preparation. 

If  a  social  gathering  is  planned  keep 
the  games  moving.  Introduce  the 
guests  with  some  well  chosen  "ice- 
breakers" that  will  keep  them  moving 
and  not  give  them  a  chance  to  get  seat- 
ed for  the  evening.  Make  the  games 
short  enough  not  to  die  on  your 
hands  and  have  every  one  taking  part. 

You  yourselves  may  have  many  bet- 
ter suggestions.  Have  a  good  time. 
Make  it  an  objective  of  the  social  to 
see  how  many  new  friends  you  can 
add  to  your  acquaintanceship. 

The  California  Mission 

The  California  Mission  reports  that 
9  of  its  Mutuals  have  each  organized 


a  Senior  Class.  The  letter  continues: 
"The  reports  of  this  department  are 
very  good.  Five  feel  that  the  Senior 
is  one  of  their  most  successful  classes. 
This  department  is  following  the  out- 
lined course  of  study  together  with 
their  social  evening,  as  given  in  the 
Manual. 

"Many  of  our  part  time  Mission- 
aries have  joined  this  class,  and  the 
investigators  as  a  rule  visit  this  de- 
partment." 

THE  Northwestern  States 
Mission 

"Reports  are  all  very  favorable.  One 
organization  said  that  this  class  was  the 
largest  of  the  entire  Mutual." 

North  Weber  Stake 

"In  some  of  the  wards  this  class,  al- 
though not  large  as  yet,  is  very  suc- 
cessful. The  lesson  material  is  enjoyed 
very  much  and  members  of  the  class. 
seem  interested.  In  other  Wards,  how- 
ever, they  are  not  meeting  with  much 
success.  The  biggest  problem  seems, 
to  be  to  get  good  attendance  and  a. 
larger  enrollment." 

Montpelier  Stake: 

"Some  wards  have  organized  the 
Senior  class.  There  is  a  good  attend- 
ance and  the  lessons  are  interesting. 
Some  are  attending  this  class  who  have- 
not  attended  the  M.  I.  A.  before." 

Cache  Stake 

"Our  Senior  classes  are  organized 
well  and  are,  we  consider,  very  success- 
ful." 

Alpine  Stake 

"Two  Wards  arc  very  successful,  the 
other  two  wards  are  just  average.  While 
all  four  wards  seem  to  be  enjoying, 
the  class  and  having  very  enjoyable 
times." 

Los  Angeles  Stake 

"The  Senior  Classes  seem  to  be  very- 
successful  in  every  Ward  in  which  they 
arc  held.  They  have  enthusiastic  and 
harmonious  entertainments  of  various, 
kinds,  from  skating  parties  to  house 
parties  and  dances." 

South  Sevier  Stake 

"We  enjoy  the  interesting  lessons- 
and  get  a  splendid  response  from  the 
class." 

"At  the  beginning  of  Mutual  we- 
gave  a  Senior  party  at  our  home  and 

(Continued  on  page  3  70) 


368 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


M  Men-Gleaners 


M  Men-Gleaners 

'"pHE  "M"  Men-Gleaner  program  for 
May  will  be  "Our  Social  Obliga- 
tion During  Vacation  Time." 

"What  is  so  rare  as  a  day  in  June?" 
wrote  Lowell  in  his  "The  Vision  of  Sir 
Launfal." 

What  is  more  delightful  than  the 
coming  of  spring  and  summer  after 
the  snows  and  the  frosts  of  winter? 
The  period  of  the  year  we  are  now 
entering  is  the  vacation  time  of  the 
year.  Those  who  have  been  attending 
school  have  laid  aside  their  books  and 
their  studies  and  before  them  lies  a 
delightful  period  of  leisure  time.  How 
properly  to  utilize  the  opportunities 
presented  during  this  period  of  the 
year  is  the  problem  that  confronts  us. 
Through  the  reading  of  good  books  we 
can  contact  the  thoughts  of  great  minds, 
thereby  greatly  enriching  ourselves. 
Emerson  expressed  a  great  truth  when 
he  said,  "Give  me  a  good  book,  health, 
and  a  June  day,  and  I  will  make  the 
pomp  of  kings  appear  ridiculous." 

Springtime  finds  us  in  the  midst  of 
the  awakening  of  nature;  the  hills 
and  the  canyons  put  on  a  new  and 
beautiful  garb,  and  the  lakes  and  woods 
become  most  inviting.  The  making  of 
fine  comradeships  and  pleasant  associ- 
ations with  those  for  whom  we  care, 
makes  it  possible  for  us  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  thus  afforded.  God  intended 
that  we  should  have  joy.  It  is  our 
heritage  that  happiness  should  fill  our 
lives  and  no  season  of  the  year  affords 
greater  opportunities  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  these  things. 

Bessie  A.  Stanley  expresses  some  fine 
thoughts  in  her  definition  of  success. 
She  wrote:  "He  has  achieved  success 
who  has  lived  well,  laughed  often,  and 
loved  much;  who  has  gained  the  re- 
spect of  intelligent  men,  the  trust  of 
pure  women  and  the  love  of  little  chil- 
dren; who  has  filled  his  niche  and  ac- 
complished his  task;  who  has  left  the 
world  better  than  he  found  it,  whether 
by  an  improved  poppy,  a  perfect  poem, 
or  a  rescued  soul;  who  has  never  lacked 
appreciation  of  earth's  beauty  or  failed 
to  express  it;  who  has  looked  for  the 
best  in  others  and  given  them  the  best 
he  had;  whose  life  was  an  inspiration, 
whose  memory  a  benediction." 

Is  it  not,  then,  our  responsibility  to 
fill  our  leisure  time,  during  this  won- 
derful period  of  the  year,  in  refreshing 
our  minds  with  the  thoughts  of  the 
great  writers;  to  so  arrange  our  affairs 
that  we  can  spend  much  time  in  pleas- 
ant association  with  others;  to  devote 
some  portion  of  each  day  to  the  devis- 
ing of  ways  and  means  to  make  other 
people  a  little  bit  happier,  and  in  the 
rendition  of  service  that  will  aid  those 
in  need  of  help;   to  keep  ourselves  in 


harmony  with  the  charm  and  beauty 
of  the  seasons,  thereby  making  our 
presence  and  association  desirable  to 
others?  Molly  Anderson  Haley  has  ex- 
pressed these  thoughts  in  the  little  poem 
which   she   entitles 

A  Prayer  for  the  Everyday 

T  ET  me  not  shut  myself  within  my- 
^-'  self. 

Nor    dedicate    my    days    to    petty 
things. 
Let  there  be  many  windows  in  my  life, 
The  entrance  to  my  heart  a  door 
that  swings 
Where   through  I   go  and  come  with 
eyes   that  smile ; 
And  folk  without  as  gladly  come  to 
me. 
That   haply   I   may   learn   that   thing 
worth  while — 
The  art  of  human  hospitality. 
Save    me    from    self-preferment    that 
would  gain 
Its    cloistered    place,     safe-sheltered 
from  the  strife; 
But,    purposeful  and  calm    and  sweet 
and  sane, 
Lord,  keep  me  in  the  Living-Room 
of  Life! 

Late  Spring  and  Summer  with  all 
its  color  and  sunshine  was  just  meant 
for  rest  and  enjoyment.  To  many 
people  summer  hours  bring  much  leis- 
ure time,  the  time  which  is  really  our 
own.  How  often  do  we  long  for  time 
that  belongs  to  us,  to  use  as  we  see 
fit,  to  do  the  things  we  enjoy  doing. 
Happiness  is  intelligent  satisfaction  and 
great  happiness  may  come  through  the 
realization  of  delightful  activities 
which  satisfy  and  develop  the  very 
best  in  us.  The  urge  to  play  in  the 
sunshine,  to  wander  through  the  hills 
and  canyons,  to  lunch  in  the  shady 
nook,  to  swim,  to  dance,  to  ride  and 
play  golf  and,  tennis,  are  only  a  few  of 
the  delights  that  come  with  summer. 
The  world  is  so  full  of  life  and  joy 
and  color  that  we  truly  spend  the  long 
winter  happily  because  we  know  spring 
and  summer  must  follow.  But  still 
a  beautiful  thing  may  be  made  ugly 
if  not  treated  sanely  and  with  utmost 
care.  In  the  far  off  land  of  India 
two  weavers  sat  side  by  side  daily, 
weaving  rugs.  The  rugs  of  one  of 
them  sold  immediately  and  there  were 
orders  waiting,  but  the  rugs  of  the  other 
weaver  would  lay  in  a  pile  and  many 
times  he  would  reduce  the  price  in 
order  to  dispose  of  them.  The  rugs 
of  the  first  one  were  beautiful  and 
smooth  with  a  harmony  of  color  and 
beauty  in  design.  The  rugs  made  by 
the  second  man  were  spasmodic  and 
irregular.  The  designs  were  vicious 
and  unattractive.     The  same  materials 


and  shades  were  used  by  both  men. 
The  one  created  and  enriched  the  world 
and  brought  happiness  to  his  own  life 
by  his  contribution,  the  other  carelessly 
wove  his  pattern  to  buy  tobacco  for 
his  pipe. 

In  our  quest  for  happiness  and  joy 
we  may  find  the  delightful  relaxation 
which  lightens  hearts  and  builds  souls. 
In  our  summer  activities  let  us  educate 
ourselves  to  choose  the  higher  things 
and  feel  a  real  satisfaction  when  the 
summer  is  gone.  Let  us  shun  the  ac- 
tivities that  would  tend  to  mar  the 
beautiful  design  that  we  have  visioned 
as  bringing  satisfaction  and  great  joy. 
When  the  leisure  hours  of  summer  come 
to  us  with  their  wonderful  opportuni- 
ties let  us  fill  them  with  a  response 
from  the  best  that  is  within  us.  "Man 
is  that  he  might  have  joy" — let  it  be 
the  joy  that  comes  from  delightful, 
high  class  recreation. 

This  is  the  evening  when  the  Junior 
girls  have  been  invited  to  join  the  "M" 
Men-Gleaners  in  their  evening's  pro- 
gram. We  hope  they  will  enjoy  parti- 
cipating with  the  older  group  and 
that  the  outing  scheduled  for  this 
night's  activity  has  been  well  planned 
and  will  result  in  a  delightful  occasion 
for  all. 


M  Men-Gleaner  Speech 

A  GAIN  the  M.  I.  A.  is  nearing  the 
climax  of  the  winter's  activities — 
contests.  Of  particular  interest  to  M 
Men  and  Gleaners  is  the  contest  in 
Public  Speaking,  for  it  has  long  been 
considered  their  event.  By  way  of 
reminder  some  of  the  regulations  gov- 
erning the  event  are  given  here:  The 
speech  given  in  contest  shall  have  as 
its  subject  the  slogan  of  the  present 
year,  "We  stand  for  enrichment  of  life 
through  constructive  use  of  leisure  and 
personal  service  to  fellow-man."  Each 
person  entering  the  contest  shall  have 
taken  a  course-  in  an  M.  I.  A.  group 
in  Speech,  or  have  read  and  studied 
the  material  in  the  Activity  Manual, 
pages  294  to  396,  and  must,  as  well, 
have  appeared  three  times  (twice  before 
groups  of  ten  or  more  people,  and  at 
least  once  in  public)  presenting  a 
speech,  carefully  prepared,  of  from  5 
to  1 0  minutes'  duration.  Contestants 
shall  be  of  17  to  23  years  of  age,  per- 
sons having  reached  their  24th  birth- 
day or  their  1  7th  birthday  during  the 
M.  I.  A.  season  being  eligible.  "A" 
standard  must  be  reached  in  Thought 
(worthwhile  material  and  a  single  and 
definite  thought)  ;  Language  (message 
adequately  clothed  in  words)  ;  Voice 
(vocally  pleasing  and  sufiiciently  au- 
dible, and  conversational  in  manner)  ; 
Action  (every  action — posture,  facial 
expression,  postures,  etc.,  must  further 
the  meaning) .  Also,  the  speech  must 
be  integrated  as  a  whole. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


369 


Gleaner  Girls 


>• 


The  Grave  of  Martin  Harris     Pictures  add  Interest 


Gleaner  Course  of  Study 

APRIL  PROGRAM:  There  will 
be  but  one  manual  discussion  in 
the  month  of  April.  On  April  11, 
Chapter  XIV,  A  Group  of  Six  Proph- 
ecies, will  be  considered.  (See  Glean- 
er Manual,  p.  126.)  According  to  the 
Gleaner  calendar,  April  18  and  25  are 
reserved  for  Ward  and  Stake  Honor 
Nights.  (However,  these  dates  may 
have  been  changed  to  meet  your  local 
conditions.) 

May  Program:  For  the  month  of 
May  our  manual  discussions  will  be 
Chapter  XV,  The  Preservation  of  the 
Nephite  Record  and  the  Coming  Forth 
of  the  Book  of  Mormon  and  Chapter 
XVI,  The  Last  Days.  (See  Gleaner 
Manual  pp.   131-140  inclusive.) 

Treasures  of  Truth:  No  project 
evening  is  scheduled  in  the  Gleaner  cal- 
endar for  the  month  of  April. 

On  the  project  evening,  Tuesday, 
May  23,  the  division  of  "History"  will 
be  taken  up.  (See  Gleaner  Manual, 
p.  52.) 

npHE  Gleaner  girls  of  Hyrum  Stake 
sponsored  a  visit  to  the  grave  of 
Martin  Harris  in  Clarkston,  Cache 
County,  Utah,  in  May,  1932.  Ap- 
proximately one  hundred  people  gath- 
ered at  the  grave  where  a  short  program 
consisting  of  prayer,  singing,  sketches 
of  the  life  and  incidents  in  the  life  of 
this  witness  to  the  Book  of  Mormon 
was  given.  The  above  picture  was 
taken  at  the  grave.  The  picture,  to- 
gether with  details  of  the  visit  to  the 
grave  and  a  brief  history  of  the  life 
of  Martin  Harris  make  a  choice  "treas- 
ure" for  the  "History"  division  of  the 
books  of  the  Gleaner  girls  of  Hyrum 
Stake. 


piCTURES  of  events  and  places  will 
add  interest  and  color  to  the  di- 
vision of  "History"  in  "Treasures  of 
Truth"  books.  On  page  18  of  the 
Gleaner  Manual  we  give  pictures  of 
the  Temples,  with  notation  that  the 
Acme  Photo  Company,  873  South  7th 
East  Street,  Salt  Lake  City,  has  pre- 
pared this  sheet  containing  pictures  of 
all  nine  Temples  and  that  it  may  be 
purchased  from  this  company  for  25c. 
The  company  has  now  prepared  a  sim- 
ilar sheet  containing  the  Presidents  of 
the  Church,  in  size  8x10,  for  25c. 
Pictures  of  each  individual  Temple, 
scenes  of  early  and  present  day  Church 
activities,  buildings,  monuments,  the 
Presidents  of  the  Church  and  mis- 
cellaneous views  of  Church  inter- 
est, in  size  3  x  4j/4,  may  be  ob- 
tained from  the  Acme  Photo  Company, 
for  5c  each.  Upon  request  you  may 
see  sample  copy  of  these  views  at  the 
General  Board  Office,  33  Bishop's 
Building,  Orders  for  all  pictures  should 
be  placed  with  the  Acme  Photo  Com- 
pany direct. 

Radio  Program 

'  I  ^HE  radio  services  of  Sunday,  Jan- 
uary,  1933,  under  the  direction  of 
the  M.  I.  A.,  presented  the  Gleaner 
and  Junior  Projects  in  a  most  interest- 
ing and  delightful  manner.  This  pro- 
gram is  published  in  the  Church  De- 
partment of  the  Deseret  News  of  Sat- 
urday, January  28.  If  it  is  available 
locally  and  can  be  presented  in  the  vari- 
ous wards  of  the  Church,  it  will  be  oi 
real  value   in   furthering  the  project. 

Open  Night 

"^[0  program   is  outlined  for  Tues- 
^^    day,  May  30. 


M.  /.  A.  Girls  at  the  Grave  of  Martin  Harris,  One  of  the  Three  Witnesses 

of  the  Book  of  Mormon 


Ward,     Stake     and     Church 
Books 

pLEASE  read  carefully  the  instruc- 
tions given  on  pages  15  and  16 
of  the  Gleaner  Manual  regarding  Ward, 
Stake  and  Church  "Treasures  of 
Truth"  books.  We  appreciate  the  con- 
tributions which  have  come  to  us  and 
again  ask  the  cooperation  of  all  ward 
and  Sitake  Gleaner  leaders.  Where 
stake  leaders  have  already  sent  in  con- 
tributions and  now  have  additional  se- 
lections from  Gleaner  books  which  are 
outstanding,  we  should  be  very  happy 
to  receive  them.  Ward  books  are  to 
be  retained  in  the  wards  and  stake  books 
are  to  be  kept  in  the  stakes;  we  desire 
only  copies  of  contributions,  with  at- 
testation, date  and  signature,  the  same 
as  the  original,  from  stake  books.  We 
hope  to  receive  your  selections  by 
May  1. 

Two  Poems 

By  HELENA  MAY  WILLIAMS 
A  Gleaner  Girl 

To  A  Fair  Weather  Friend 

^~pHE    skies    were    bright,    the    sun 

shone  down. 
We  laughed  and  sang,  forgot  to  frown. 
We  danced  and  played  and  just  loved 

life, 
Forgot   there   was   trouble   or  worldly 

strife. 

And  I  called  you  friend  and  held  youi 

hand, 
And  was  glad  that  by  me  you  chose  to 

stand. 
But   one    day   the   sun    went   under    a 

cloud. 
Of  me  you  seemed  to  grow  less  proud. 

Then  the  lightning  came  and  thunder 

and  hail, 
And  beat  me  like  an  unmerciful  flail. 
When  at  last  I  looked  up  through  tear- 

diramed  eyes, 
Lo!  you'd  gone  to  a  place  with  bluer 

skies. 

And  so,  my  dear,  I  say  to  you. 
Anyone's  skies  can't  always  be  blue. 
Mine  now  are  grey  and  my  heart  is  torn, 
Yet  soon  a  glad  day   for  me  will  be 
born. 

For  every  life  must  have  sunshine  and 

rain, 
And  every  heart  must  know  gladness 

and  pain. 
If  skies  now  are  bright,  they  may  turn 

grey, 
If  black  now  and  raining,  soon  they'll 

be    gay. 

Far  off,  in  the  distance,  I  see  my  hope 

shine. 
Soon  my  skies  will  brighten,   my   life 

outshine 


370 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


Any  that  you've  ever  felt  or  seen, — > 
But  my  eyes  are  becoming  very  keen. 
So    goodbye    for    ever,    fair    weather 

friend. 
It's  better  that  this  should  be  the  end 
Than    that   my   skies   should   darken 

again 
Losing  you,  yet  needing  friends — ^bad- 
ly— then. 

Loneliness 

n^HERE  was  a  girl  at  college 

We  all  felt  sorry  for; 
She  seemed  so  often  lonely, 

We  wished  to  give  her  more 
Of  joy  and  true  companionship. 

But  while  we  laughed  and  played, 
She  read  and  thought  and  pondered, 

And  lovely  poems  made. 
My  dears,  I  read  her  poems 

At  twilight,  yesterday — 
Her  thoughts,  her  hopes,  her  ideas; 

How  such  things  do  repay. 
She  whom  we  thought  was  lonely. 

Is  blest  with  friends  ten-fold. 
While  we  in  poverty  of  thought 

Are  lonely  now  we're  old. 


Junior  Girls 


>• 


-tei^^fw— 


US, 


entors- 


Continued  from 
page  367 


played  games  using  the  word  Senior. 
One  game  was  making  up  poems  using 
a  letter  of  the  word  S  E  N  I  O  R  for 
the  beginning  of  each  line.  For  this 
game,  we  gave  the  Senior  Manual  as 
a  prize.     One  of  the  poems  follows: 

"S  is  for  service,  we  give 

Each  to  each, 
E  is  for  effort  to  grow 

Within  reach; 
N  is  "No  Evil,"  a  slogan 

We  need. 
To  guide  us  all  onward 

In  thought  and  deed, 
I  is  intelligent  seeking 

For  facts, 
O  is  for  order  to  govern 

Our  acts, 
R  is  right  knowledge  we 

Hope  to  attain 
Our  name?     It  is  Seniors 

Our  goal  we  shall  gain." 

"We  have  three  active  activity  lead- 
ers and  expect  to  put  on  an  entertain- 
ment from  our  class  for  the  entire 
V/ard." 

Box  Elder  Stake: 

"We  have  six  Senior  classes  in  Box 
Elder  Stake.  Three  of  these  classes  are 
very  successful  in  their  lesson  work 
and  attendance  but  the  other  three  are 
in  an  experimental  state. 

"Our  Stake  Senior  leader  thinks  the 
lessons  are  wonderful  and  that  next 
season  she  and  the  wards  will  be  able 
to  accomplish  more.  The  class  fills  a 
need  in  our  M.  I.  A.  group." 


"When  we  look  into  the  long  ave- 
nue of  the  future  and  see  the  good 
there  is  for  each  one  of  us  to  do  we 
realize  after  all  what  a  beautiful  thing 
it  is  to  work  and  to  live  and  be  hap- 
py."— Stevenson. 

'npHIS  Mutual  year  soon  drawing  to 
a  close  has  shown  splendid  progress 
in  the  Junior  department.  The  quality 
of  the  work  done  by  the  leaders  has 
been  so  fine,  that  the  results  are  mani- 
fest in  the  interest  of  the  girls  them- 
selves. 

The  program  as  presented  and  car- 
ried out,  has  been  thoroughly  spiritual 
in  its  character,  and  that,  combined 
with  enough  recreational  features, 
makes  it  ideal  for  our  Junior  girls. 

The  Junior  committee  of  the  Gen- 
eral Board  feels  at  this  time  to  express 
praise  and  appreciation  for  the  splen- 
did accomplishments  of  the  past  year. 

In  the  class  discussion  on  "Believing 
and  Doing,"  the  girls  have  caught  the 
spirit  of  the  subject,  and  have  come  to 
know  that  there  is  a  Supreme  Being, 
a  loving  Father  in  Heaven  who  is 
guiding  the  destinies  of  His  children 
here  on  earth.  They  have  learned  the 
first  steps  in  the  Gospel  plan  and  have 
thereby  built  a  foundation  for  their 
future  faith,  safety,  and  strength  in  the 
Gospel. 

We  now  come  to  the  closing  chap- 
ters in  our  course  of  study  "Believing 
and  Doing."  These  splendid  lessons 
include  the  consideration  of  the  last 
of  the  Articles  of  Faith,  and  finish  the 
journey  step  by  step  which  they  have 
taken  through  the  Gospel  plan.  As 
they  draw  near  the  conclusion  of  this 
course,  their  enthusiasm  should  in- 
crease. Your  responsibility.  Junior 
leaders,  is  to  keep  the  interest  in  these 
lessons  burning,  so  that  when  the  girls 
leave  this  department,  they  will  enter 
the  Gleaner  Class  with  a  deep  love  for 
the  gospel,  and  with  a  desire  to  make 
it  a  part  of  their  daily  lives. 

With  the  increasing  interest  in  our 
project,  "My  Story,"  and  the  added 
one  of  Contest  work,  these  last  few 
meetings  should  surpass  the  earlier 
ones  for  enthusiasm  and  interest. 

Can't  you  make  these  activities  so 
alluring  to  the  Junior  Girls  that  you 
will  end  this  year  with  larger  classes 


Awakening 

By  Juanita  Pulsipher 

THE  harp  of  my  heart  was  out  of  tune, 
Discordant,  inert;   then  suddenly 
Something  happened — nothing  much — 
But  all  seemed  so  perfectly  right  that  soon 
It  sang  a  long-dreamed  melody 
To  the  magic  of  your  touch. 


than  you  had  at  first?      That  will  be 
the  real  test  of  your  leadership! 

We  are  happy  that  the  story  telling 
course  has  found  favor  with  our  Junior 
Girls  the  past  Mutual  season.  One 
writer  on  the  art  of  story  telling  has 
said:  "When  we  use  our  imagination 
and  emotion  to  tell  a  story,  we  are 
using  the  same  forces  that  underlie  all 
creative  work."  Contest  time  is  near 
at  hand  and  contest  requirements  as 
given  in  the  Supplement  should  be 
brought  to  the  attention  of  all  who 
plan  to  enter.  Junior  girls  can  also 
contest  in  dance,  drama,  and  music. 

Leaders 

"DEFER  to  the  calendar,  page  108 
of  the  Manual  and  check  on  work 
for  the  balance  of  this  season.  Use 
your  best  efforts  to  make  each  night 
outstanding. 

The  project — "Review  and  Display 
of  Books"  should  be  teeming  with  in- 
terest. 

Note  that  May  2nd  the  Juniors  are 
to  be  the  guests  of  the  M-Men-Gleaners. 

Begin  to  plan  for  the  Class  Party 
on  May  23rd. 


My  Prayer 

By  MARIANA  THOMAS 
Junior  Girl  from  Ogden 

H  Father, 


0 


Give  me  this  day  an  inspiration, 
Something  for  which  to  live,  to  look 

up  to,  to  desire. 
Spare  me  a  part  of  the  blessings  which 
Are  thine  to  bestow; 
Give  me  an  ideal  which  will  let  me 
Do  only  the  best. 
And,  Father, 

Make  me    worthy  of  my  home,    my 
school,  my  friends. 

God's  Painting 
By  MARIANA  THOMAS 

TTTIRES  and  posts, 

'^     And  chimneys  and  trees. 
Lightning  rods,  houses. 

Mountains  and  bees! 
All  in  God's  painting 

So  wondrous,  so  grand. 
Would  that  all  men 

He  could  help  understand. 

Pocatello  Story-Writing 
Contest 

pOCATELLO  Stake  has  had  a  con- 
test  in  story-writing,  the  first  place 
being  won  by  a  Junior  Girl,  La  Ree 
Whittier  of  Rockland  Ward.  Her 
story,  "To  Make  a  House  a  Home," 
brought  out  Latter-day  Saint  ideals  in 
a  splendid  way. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


371 


Bee-Hive  Girls 


TF  you  have  not  already  done  so,  be 
sure  and  read  the  Bee-Hive  notes  in 
the  March  Era.  You  will  find  them 
very  helpful  in  finishing  up  your  Bee- 
Hive  work.  In  this  connection  we 
hope  that  many  Bee-Hive  girls  will 
have  completed  their  scrap  books.  The 
Bee-Hive  scrap  book  should  contain 
a  history  of  the  Bee-Hive  girl's  activi- 
ties and  her  cell  filling  for  the  two 
years. 

Swarm  Day 

'  I  ^HE  Bee-Hive  Committee  was  de- 
lighted with  many  of  the  Swarm 
Day  exercises  last  year,  but  in  some 
instances  stakes  presented  just  ordi- 
nary programs,  which  had  no  connec- 
tion with  Bee-Hive  work  except  for  the 
awarding  of  the  Bee-Hive  certificates. 
The  Swarm  Day  of  the  bees  is  a  day  of 
rejoicing  over  their  accomplishments; 
it  is  a  day  of  feasting  together.  This 
is  what  we  want  to  make  our  Swarm 
Day,  one  in  which  the  girls  rejoice 
over  the  Bee-Hive  accomplishments,  a 
review  more  or  less  of  the  past  two 
years'  experiences  together.  Some  Bee- 
Keepers  have  expressed  the  thought  that 
they  get  tired  of  presenting  Bee-Hive 
programs  year  after  year  at  Swa'rm 
Day,  that  they  want  to  do  something 
different.  Graduation  exercises  at 
schools  are  much  the  same  each  year, 
certain  phases  of  the  program  having 
become  traditional  and  so  it  should  be 
with  our  Swarm  Day.  Each  year  we 
have  a  new  group  of  girls  taking  part; 
it  is  their  day,  one  they  should  long 
remember,  one  that  leaves  with  them 
the  beautiful  spirit  of  Bee-Hive.  For 
Swarm  Day  suggestions  see  pages  192 
to  195  Bee-Keeper's  Book. 

Summer  Work 

OEE-KEEPERS  arc  inclined  to  slack- 
en their  responsibilities  during  the 
summer  time,  since  Mutual  doesn't 
meet  in  regular  session.  However,  we 
feel  this  is  the  time  when  a  Bee-Keeper 
should  keep  in  even  closer  touch  with 
her  girls,  because  of  the  leisure  time 
which  they  have  when  not  in  school. 
Handcraft,  making  some  practical  use 
of  the  symbol,  working  on  their  scrap 
books,  etc.,  are  interesting  summer  ac- 
tivities for  the  girls. 

Last  year  the  Bee-Hive  Committee 
prepared  an  excellent  summer  bulletin. 
Some  1500  copies  were  sent  out,  so 
there  should  be  at  least  one  copy  in 
every  ward  in  the  Church.  The  Stake 
Bee-Keepers  received  copies  also.  These 
bulletins  were  sent  without  charge  and 
we  hope  that  they  have  been  used  to 
good  advantage  and  have  been  pre- 
served for  future  use.  We  would  re- 
fer you  to  this  bulletin  for  suggestions 


on  summer  outings.  The  bulletin  con- 
tains, also,  games,  handcraft,  first  aid, 
etc.  In  Stakes  having  summer  camps, 
we  hope  that  plans  will  be  made  where- 
by every  Bee-Hive  girl  may  have  the 
delightful  experience  of  spending  one 
day  or  more  at  the  camp. 

Mrs.  Edith  Butler,  Stake  Bee-Keeper 
of  Shelley  Stake  writes  as  follows: 

"Our  Shelley  stake  Bee-Hive  Swarms 
have  accomplished  a  great  deal  this 
winter  in  spite  of  the  big  drifts  of  snow 
and  we  are  hoping  to  have  a  real  Swarm 
Day.  One  Swarm  of  Builders  enter- 
tained their  mothers  at  a  banquet  and 
surprised  them  with  an  apron  each, 
which  the  girls  had  made  in  their  Bee- 
Hive  class. 

Editor  of  Improvement  Era. 

Dear  Sir:  I'm  enclosing  two  poems 
written  by  Bee-Hive  girls  of  South  Da- 
vis stake.  I  have  been  urging  the  Bee- 
Keepers  to  encourage  the  girls  to  write 
poetry  as  a  development  in  the  love 
for  beautiful  things.  I  have  promised 
the  girls  I  would  mail  their  poems  to 
the  Era. 

Sincerely, 
Bertha  Muir, 
Stake  Bee-Keeper, 

South  Davis. 

A  Prayer 

By  AFTON  GRANT 
Age  14,  West  Bountiful 

p\EAR  Lord, 

^"^   As  the  bees  build  their  hives. 
Help  us  to  build  our  lives; 
As  we  seek  knowledge,  give  us  faith 
To  do  and  say  the  things  thou  saith 
We  should  do. 

And  help  us.  Father,  to  love  truth; — 
Taste  the  sweetness  of  service  through- 
out our  youth. 
Teach  us  to  know  Thy  Holy  work; 
And  when  we  from  our  duties  shirk, 
Guide  our  way. 

Dear  Father  in  Heaven,  give  us  beauty 

in  health; 
We  need  not  worldly  gold  for  wealth. 
We  thank  Thee  for  our  womanhood — 
Oh,  help  us  defend  it  as  we  should! — 
We'll  feel  joy — 
Amen. 

A  Beehive  Girl 

By  JANET  HIGGS 
Age  13,  Woods  Cross,  Utah 

A  BEE-HIVE  girl  is  a  lively  girl 
With  lots  of  gaiety. 
She's  level  headed,  cool  and  calm 

In  an  emergency. 
She  always  knows  just  what  to  do. 


She's  helpful,  full  of  cheer; 
She's  kind,  polite,  obedient. 

To  all  whom  she  holds  dear. 
Her  courage  never  falters. 

She  will  protect  the  weak. 
She  never  flaunts  her  kindly  deeds, 

For  she  is  modest,  meek. 

She's  reverent  to  her  God  and  church. 

Their  teaching  she  obeys. 
In  generous  acts,   sweet  thoughts  and 
prayer, 

She  daily  lives  their  praise. 
She's  loyal  to  her  country. 

Salutes  when  flags  unfurl; 
And  I  may  surely  say  I'm  proud 

That  I'm  a  Bee-Hive  girl. 

Envelopes  for  Scrap  Books 

By  MILDRED  MOSS 
Woods  Cross,  Utah 

Service  is  the  rent  we  pay  for  the 
space  we  occupy  upon  the  earth.  I 
shall  be  pleased  if  the  accompanying 
suggestions,  which  I  have  been  request- 
to  send  in,  are  of  use. 

While  building  my  Bee-Hive  Scrap 
Book,  I  found  that  I  did  not  always 
have  time  to  care  for  my  material  prop- 
erly. Sometimes  I  lost  valuable  clip- 
pings by  putting  them  aside  when  I 
lacked  time.  Some  work  which  Moth- 
er was  doing  at  the  same  time  gave 
us  much  concern  as  to  how  to  care 
for  such  things.  Together  we  de- 
vised a  system  of  "homemade"  en- 
velopes. We  made  large  envelopes 
from    laundry   and   wrapping   paper. 

The  envelopes  were  made  about  one 
inch  shorter  each  way  than  the  scrap 
book  cover.  In  order  to  give  more 
room,  a  fold  was  made  in  each  length- 
wise end  of  the  envelope.  Before  past- 
ing together,  we  placed  a  Peter  Pan 
patch  about  one  inch  from  the  outer 
edge  and  in  the  center  of  the  flap; 
punched  a  hole  in  the  center  of  the 
patch;  made  a  pencil  dot  on  the  upper 
side  of  the  envelope  to  correspond 
and  push  a  brass  brad  through,  at  the 
dot,  from  the  underside.  Over  the 
head  of  the  brass  brad  we  placed  a 
piece  of  adhesive  tape  to  keep  the  brad 
in  place.  (We  tried  other  things  but 
found  the  adhesive  tape  best.)  Between 
the  upper  and  under  sides  of  the  en- 
velope at  the  bottom,  and  inside,  we 
placed  a  strip  of  unbleached  muslin 
about  one  or  one  and  one-half  inches 
wide,  and  stitched  it  across  on  the 
sewing  machine. 

I  placed  my  symbol  on  the  ones  I 
used,  and  printed  the  name  of  that 
which  I  wished  to  put  into  it  in  one 
corner.  I  had  an  envelope  for  each 
of  the  seven  fields  and  three  or  four 
extra  ones  for  any  other  material  I 
considered  important  enough,  such  as 
recipes,  pictures,  party  plans  and  po- 
ems. These  envelopes  were  fastened 
in  my  scrap  book  cover  the  same  as 
pages.  From  the  material  gathered 
and  placed  in  these  folders,  I  made 
pages  for  my  permanent  scrap  book. 


372 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April^  1933 


Vanguards 

Vanball  Finals  Thrill 


'T~*HAT  Vanball  from  now  on  will 
have  to  be  reckoned  with  as  one 
of  the  outstanding  floor  games  was 
demonstrated  to  a  crowd  of  several 
hundred  spectators  in  the  Deseret  Gym- 
nasium, Saturday,  February  25,  1933. 

In  the  grand  finals  for  the  entire 
Church,  Emigration  Ward  of  Liberty 
Stake,  and  Ephraim  North  Ward  of 
South  Sanpete  Stake,  exchanged  posi- 
tions from  the  finish  of  last  year.  Em- 
igration Ward  won  the  championship, 
after  winning  a  thrilling  semi-final 
from  Logan  Fifth  Ward  of  the  Cache 
Stake  and  then  out-pointing  Ephraim 
North  Ward,  last  year's  champions. 

The  order  of  finish  of  the  eight  teams 
that  won  their  way  to  the  Grand 
Finals  was  as  follows: 

1st — Emigration  Ward,  Liberty 
Stake,  Salt  Lake  Council. 

2nd — Ephraim  North  Ward,  South 
Sanpete  Stake,  Bryce  Canyon  Council. 

3rd — Logan  Fifth  Ward,  Cache 
Stake,  Cache  Valley  Council. 

4th — Mapleton  Ward,  Kolob  Stake, 
Timpanogos  Council. 

5th — Logan  Ninth  Ward,  Cache 
Stake,  Cache  Valley  Council. 

6th^Tremonton  Ward,  Bear  River 
Stake,  Ogden  Gateway  Council. 

7th — Rexburg  First  Ward,  Fre- 
mont Stake,  Teton  Peaks  Council. 

8th — ^Pocatello  First  W^ard,  Poca- 
tello  Stake,  Eastern  Idaho  Area  Coun- 
cil. 

The  wmners  were  dressed  in  white 
trousers  and  white  shirts,  with  a  large 
green  block  "E"  on  the  front.  The 
suits  for  the  entire  team  were  earned 
by  selling  coal  during  the  winter. 

'f'  "T^  'P 

Story  Telling  Contest 

T  TNUSUAL  interest  is  being  mani- 
^-^  fested  this  year  in  the  story  telling 
contest  for  Vanguards.  The  number 
of  participants  in  the  various  wards 
far  exceeds  any  previous  year.  Fol- 
lowing competition  in  the  wards,  stakes 
and  divisions,  the  finals  will  be  held  in 
Salt  Lake  at  June  Conference.  Con- 
testants in  story  will  participate 
through  the  M.  I.  A.  in  all  units  and 
not  through  Scout  Councils  as  in  other 
contest  events.  Full  details  are  printed 
in  the  M.  I.  A.  supplement.  It  is  im- 
portant that  contestants  learn  to  actu- 
ally re-tell  a  story  and  not  simply  mem- 
orize the  story  and  present  a  reading. 

Archery  Finals  in  June 

PREPARATION  for  the  Grand  Fi- 
nals in  Archery  are  under  way  in 


>«- 


various  parts  of  the  Church,  according 
to  reports  received  by  the  Vanguard 
Committee.  Preparations  are  also  go- 
ing forward  in  Salt  Lake  to  make  the 
Archery  Finals  one  of  the  outstanding 
features  of  June  Conference.  Com- 
plete details  of  the  program  and  plans 
for  the  finals  will  appear  in  the  Im- 
provement Era  for  May. 

Vanguards,  Here^s  an  Idea 

TN  these  days  of  the  almost  universal 
use  of  the  typewriter  it  is  often 
made  to  serve  a  purpose  outside  of 
that  of  regular  routine  work.  One 
such  special  use  was  made  of  it  re- 
cently by  two  college  boys  on  an  auto 
vacation  trip  from  California  to 
Bryce,  Zion  and  Grand  Canyons,  go- 
ing by  Salt  Lake  and  returning  via 
the  Mojave  Desert. 

The  boys  took  along  a  portable 
typewriter  and  as  one  drove  the  auto- 
mobile the  other,  the  typewriter  rest- 
ing on  his  knees,  tapped  off  an  account 


of  the  trip,  sights  seen,  odd  experiences, 
main  impressions  and  other  interest- 
ing data.  In  this  way  a  vivid,  accur- 
ate and  continuous  record  of  the  jour- 
ney was  kept. 

The  portable,  light,  handy  and 
compact,  proved  more  serviceable  than 
a  note  book  and  pencil.  It  was  found 
that  the  slight  jar  of  the  traveling  auto- 
mobile on  ordinary  roads  interfered 
very  little  with  the  turning  out  of  clear 
and  fairly  correct  copy.  Only  once 
was  a  word  or  two  somewhat  mangled. 
That  was  when  the  auto  hit  an  un- 
seen hole  in  the  highway  in  Nevada 
and  plunged  into  the  ditch  alongside. 
But  the  operator  managed  to  hold  the 
typewriter  on  his  knees  despite  this 
brisk  bouncing. 

Upon  returning  home  one  of  the 
boys  pasted  his  copy  in  a  large  scrap 
book  with  the  pictures  taken  or  pur- 
chased along  the  way.  Thus  the 
unique  use  of  the  typewriter  gave  him 
a  complete  and  handy  record  of  his 
pleasant  vacation  that  will  serve  to 
bring  back,  upon  perusal,  many  in- 
teresting reminders  of  the  experience 
that  might  otherwise  slip  from  mem- 
ory.— Oscar  H.  Roesner,  Live  Oak, 
Calif. 


Top:     Emigration  Ward  Van-Ball  Champions. 
Bottom:     Ephraim  Ward  Van  Ball  Runncrsup. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April^  1933 


373 


Boy  Scouts 

A  Tribute  to  Scouting 

By  GEO.  R.  HILL 


/^N  this,  the  week  of  the  twenty- 
^■"^  third  anniversary  of  your  birth  in 
America,  O  Scouting — Builder  of  Boy 
Character — we  salute  you.  As  a  chal- 
lenging answer  to  every  natural  urge  of 
boyhood  you  are  without  a  peer. 

You  take  the  Scouts  to  the  moun- 
tains, to  the  woods,  to  the  fields,  to  the 
wide  open  starry  spaces,  there  to  in- 
terpret for  him  the  many  sights  and 
sounds  that  greet  him.  You  point  out 
to  his  wondering  eyes  the  butterfly  just 
emerging  in  gorgeous  splendor  from 
the  lowly  chrysallis,  the  exquisite  nest 
of  the  shy  water  ouzel  hidden  so  care- 
fully in  the  cavity  of  an  over-hanging 
rock  behind  a  waterfall.  You  teach 
him  to  distinguish  between  the  exu- 
berant love  songs  of  the  wild  creatures 
and  their  distress  signals.  You  make 
of  him  a  protecting  partner  of  all  wild 
life.  You  unlock  the  windows  of  his 
soul,  O  Scouting,  and  lend  wings  to 
his  understanding. 

You  teach  the  Scout  true  sportsman- 
ship, alike  on  skiing  parties,  while  fish- 
ing for  the  wily  trout,  in  an  archery 
contest,  at  the  Boy  Scout  Camp,  on  a 
hike  in  sweltering  heat,  or  while  selling 
his  papers  on  a  crowded  street.  On 
all  such  excursions  you  teach  him  to 
depend  on  himself  and  to  do  for  him- 
self. You  bid  him  walk  without  blis- 
tering his  feet,  or  if  they  do  blister, 
you  tell  him  what  to  do  for  them.  You 
show  him  how  to  make  his  bed  so  that 
he  can  sleep  warm  in  comfort  even 
under  an  open  sky  and  with  frost  in 
the  air.  You  show  him  how  to  cook 
a  good  meal  in  camp,  or  on  a  hike,  or 
for  his  mother  at  home;  how  to  make  a 
bow  and  a  quiver  of  arrows;  how  to 
sew  on  buttons  or  repair  a  rent  in  his 
clothing;  how  to  track  deer  to  moun- 
tain meadows,  and  how  and  where  to 
so  conceal  himself  that  he  can  watch 
them  without  disturbing  them.  You 
teach  him  how  to  build  a  bridge  across 
a  stream,  or  a  shelter  to  protect  himself 
from  storm;  how  to  build  a  camp- 
fire,  and  how  to  put  it  out. 

You  make  of  him  a  clean  and  fit 
companion  for  himself  when  he  is 
alone,  and  a  jovial  comrade  when  he 
is  with  others.  You  give  to  him  the 
ability  to  play  and  team  with  other 
boys,  to  be  a  good  loser,  and  a  modest 
considerate  winner. 

You  give  to  the  Scout  a  religion — 
the  religion  of  service.  He  thrills  as 
he  repeats  your  scout  oath: 

"On  my  honor  I  will  do  my  best: 

To  do  my  duty  to  God  and  my 
Country,  and  to  obey  the  Scout  Law; 

To  help  other  people  at  all  times; 

To  keep  myself  physically  strong, 
mentally  awake,  and  morally  straight." 


In  it,  you  have  created  for  him  an  i- 
deal  which  he  loves  and  to  the  perform- 
ance of  which,  he  consecrates  his  life. 

You  are  the  basis  of  a  friendliness 
and  an  understanding  between  boys  of 
all  nations — a  potent  force  for  uni- 
versal peace. 

Above  all,  O  Scouting,  you  help  the 
boy  to  find  God,  to  know  God,  to  love 
God,  and  to  be  a  partner  with  God  in 
the  accomplishment  of  His  purposes. 


H' 


What  Is  A  Boy? 

E  is  the  person  who  is  going  to 
carry  on  what  you  have  started. 

"He  is  to  sit  where  you  are  sitting 
and  attend  to  those  things  you  think 
are  so  important,  when  you  are  gone. 

"You  may  adopt  all  the  policies  you 
please,  but  how  they  will  be  carried 
out  depends  on  him. 

"Even  if  you  make  leagues  and  treat- 
ies, he  will  have  to  manage  them. 

"He  is  going  to  sit  at  your  desk  in 
the  Senate  and  occupy  your  place  on 
the  Supreme  Bench. 

"He  will  assume  control  of  your 
cities,  states,  and  nation. 

"He  is  going  to  move  in  and  take 
over  your  prisons,  churches,  schools, 
universities,  and  corporations. 

"All  your  work  is  going  to  be  judged 
and  praised  or  condemned  by  him. 

"Your  reputation  and  your  fortune 
are  in  his  hands. 

"He  is  the  only  source  of  manhood. 

"All  your  work  is  for  him,  and  the 
fate  of  the  nation  and  of  humanity  is 
in  his  hands. 

"So  it  might  be  as  well  to  pay  HIM 
some  attention." 

Good  Turns 

As  reported  by  individual  Scouts  in  a 

Troop 
^T^HE   gauge   of  a   real   Scout   is   the 
daily  good  turn. 


1.  Took  neighbor's  ash  can  in; 
which  had  been  knockjed  into  the 
street. 

2.  Went  after  a  baby  that  had  tod- 
dled into  the  street. 

3.  Helped  a  small  child  home  from 
school  in  a  storm. 

4.  Gave  first  aid  to  a  dog's  injured 
leg. 

5.  Removed  a  piece  of  wire  from 
school  grounds,  neck  of  a  broken  bot- 
tle from  street  and  turned  a  board  over 
that  had  nails  in  it,  so  that  the  points 
were  down. 

6.  Packed  a  suit  case  to  the  station 
for  a  woman. 

7.  Picked  barbed  wire  out  of  road. 

8.  Took  a  cat  out  of  water  that  was 
drowning. 

9.  Helped  old  man  across  the  street. 

10.  I  took  one  of  my  chickens  to  a 
sick  man. 

11.  I  picked  up  some  coats  and  hats 
from  the  floor  and  put  them  on  the 
rack. 

12.  Helped  give  first  aid  to  fainted 
person. 

13.  Carried  water  out  of  a  widow's 
cellar. 

14.  Fixed  some  loose  pickets  on  a 
neighbor's  fence. 

15.  Gathered  papers  in  street  and 
burned  them. 

16.  Picked  up  a  part  of  a  broken 
windshield  and  put  it  in  the  garbage 
can. 

17.  Drained  the  water  off  an  old 
lady's  path. 

18.  Gave  first  aid  to  a  knockcd-oui 
boy. 

19.  Propped  up  a  fence  that  was 
bent  over. 

20.  Helped  an  old  blind  paper  man 
across  the  busy  streets. 

2 1 .  Helped  an  old  lady  with  some 
parcels  on  the  street  car. 

22.  Carried  coal  up  two  flights  of 
stairs  for  an  old  lady. 


Make  Scouting  a  Game 


T  ISTED  below  are  several  interesting 
Scout  games  that  can  be  used  very 
effectively  as  inter-patrol  contests  in 
the  troop  or  used  as  the  foundation  for 
a  great  District  or  Council  rally  pro- 
gram. 

When  used  as  a  district  program  the 
events  should  be  used  as  an  inter-troop 
demonstration  or  conte'st  and  when 
used  as  a  Council  program  the  events 
should  be  on  an  inter-district  basis  with 
the  best  troops  in  each  district  represent- 
ing their  district  in  each  of  the  events. 

Scout  Relay 

n^EAM  of  Eight.    Rope  Coiling— 5 
legged  race- — whittling — Flint  and 
Steel. 


Materials:  2  pieces  of  ^  inch  rope 
— one  50  feet  long — one  15  inches 
long.  Pocket  knife  (this  does  not 
mean  a  hunting  knife)  — 6  neckerchiefs 
— 2  Flint  and  Steel  Fire  Making  Sets. 

Teams  line  up  in  one  end  of  the 
hall.  Each  No.  1  man  has  the  short 
length  of  J4  i^^ch  rope.  The  50  foot 
length  of  J4  i^ch  rope  is  stretched  out 
from  the  opposite  end  of  the  hall  to- 
ward the  team.  At  the  word  GO  No. 
1  man  runs  to  the  opposite  end  of  the 
hall,  coils  the  50  foot  rope  into  14 
coils,  ties  the  coils  together,  using 
square  knot  with  the  short  rope  and  re- 
turns and  touches  off  the  next  group, 
numbers  2-3-4-5  men.  Those  4  men, 
each  equipped  with  neckerchiefs  worn 


374 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


with  a  slide  and  two  of  them  with  one 
extra  neckerchief  each  carried  as  de- 
sired, line  up  side  by  side  this  way.  No. 
2  Man-No.  3  man-No.  4  man-No,  5 
man.  Using  their  neckerchiefs,  the  right 
leg  of  No.  2  man  is  tied  to  the  left  leg  of 
No.  3  man:  the  right  leg  of  No.  3  man 
to  the  left  leg  of  No.  4  man;  the  right 
leg  of  No.  4  man  to  the  left  leg  of  No. 
5  man.  The  legs  are  tied  in  each  in- 
stance using  one  neckerchief  at  the 
ankles  and  one  at  the  knees,  square 
knots  are  used  to  tie.  Thus  tied  the 
four  scouts  run  to  the  opposite  end 
around  a  given  object  and  return  and 
touch  off  the  next  man  No.  6.  He 
runs  to  the  opposite  end  where  he  is 
given  a  piece  of  wood  2  in.  x  2  in.  x 
1 6  in.  which  he  cuts  into  2  pieces  with 
his  pocket  knife.  He  then  returns  and 
touches  off  the  2  flint  and  steel  fire 
makers  who  go  to  the  middle  of  hall 
and  proceed  to  make  fires.  When  cither 
:gets  a  flame  the  relay  is  complete.  The 
first  team  completing  in  the  finals 
will  win. 

1.  The  rope  must  be  coiled  in  the 
hands  as  a  cowboy  coils  his  lariat.  Not 
around  the  elbow  or  knee  or  on  the 
iloor. 

2.  Coils  must  be  approximately  the 
same  size,  (a  poorly  coiled  rope  may 
disqualify  a  team.) 

3.  When  the  rope  is  coiled  if  the 
two  ends  are  of  sufficient  length  to 
overlap  and  form  another  coil  making 
a  total  of  15  coils  instead  of  14  it 
will  be  considered  improperly  coiled 
and  ruled  out. 

4.  As  No.  1  man  touches  off  No.  2- 
3-4-5  he  hands  his  coiled  rope  to  the 
judge  for  inspection. 

5.  In  the  whittling  event  the  stick 
provided  must  be  cut  into  two  (2) 
pieces  the  middle  ten  inches  of  the 
stick  being  used  for  the  cut. 

6.  The  stick  must  be  cut  complete- 
ly. If  any  part  is  broken  the  partici- 
pant is  disqualified. 

Centipede  Rope  Race 

Tj^IGHT  Scout  Team. — Teams  lined 
up  in  relay  formation.  Each  scout 
has  2  pieces  of  J4  '"<^^  sas/j  cord  30 
inches  long.  At  the  word  go  each  end 
scout,  front  and  rear,  ties  a  bowline 
knot  around  each  ankle,  and  each  scout 
in  between  the  end  scouts  ties  a  rope 
around  each  ankle  using  the  square 
knot,  with  one  end  toward  the  front 
and  the  other  the  rear.  The  ends  of 
the  ropes  between  each  scout  are  tied 
together  using  square  knots  making  a 
'Centipede.  The  team  then  runs  around 
a  given  object  about  40  feet  or  more 
away  and  returns.  Knots  are  then  in- 
spected. The  first  team  returning  with 
all  knots  correct  in  the  finals  wins. 

1 .  Ropes  must  not  be  over  3  0  inches 
long.  A  team  with  longer  ropes  will 
he  ruled  out. 

2.  34  i^'^h  sash  cord  must  be  used. 

3.  All  knots  will  be  examined  after 


the  race.  One  improperly  tied  knot 
will  disqualify  any  team. 

4.  A  team  can  stop  and  correct  or 
tie  a  rope  after  start  is  made,  but  can- 
not do  this  after  finish  line  is  crossed. 

First  Aid  Carry  Relay 

CEVEN  Scout  team  using  firearms 
^  drag — 3  man  lift — blanket  stretch- 
er—one man  lift — 4  hand  chair  carry 
— horseback  carry. 

Position  of  Team  at  Start 


0      1 

0     5 

0     2 

0      6 

0      3 

0—7 

0—4 

No.  1  is  the  patient.  No.  2  takes 
the  patient  to  the  opposite  end  using 
the  fireman's  drag.  (Neckerchief  can 
be  removed  if  desired.)  After  they 
arrive  5-6-7  make  a  blanket  stretcher 
(blanket  and  2  poles,  no  pins)  and 
test  it.  5-6-7  assisted  by  No.  2  (No. 
2  to  place  stretcher  under  patient  when 
he  is  raised  from  the  floor) ,  place  No. 
1  on  the  stretcher  using  the  three  man 
lift.  No.  5  and  No.  6  carry  the  stretcher 
to  the  opposite  end.  After  they  arrive 
No.  3  and  No.  4  make  a  4  hand  chair. 
No.  1  on  the  stretcher  is  lowered  to 
the  floor  in  a  supine  position.  No.  5 
or  No.  6  then  picks  up  the  patient 
using  the  one  man  lift,  similar  to  the 
arm  carry  and  places  him  in  the  chair 
made  by  No.  3  and  No.  4.  He  is  then 
carried  to  the  opposite  end  and  placed 
on  the  back  of  No.  7,  horseback  style 
who  takes  him  back  to  place  of  begin- 
ning. Any  undue  roughness  will  make 
a  team  subject  to  disqualification. 

1 ,  No.  2  must  wear  the  neckerchief, 
used  to  tie  No.  I's  hands  together  for 
the  firemans'  drag,  in  proper  place  and 
fastened  with  a  slide.  Square  knot  is 
used  to  tie.  No.  1  is  lying  on  floor 
to  start. 

2.  The  blanket  for  the  stretcher  is 
to  be  laid  out  flat  on  the  floor  (with- 
out folds)  until  the  stretcher  is  made. 
Single  blanket  or  double,  folded  single 
size. 


The  Trees 

By   Fredrika  Borckard 

*~nHE  little  trees  and  the  old  trees, 
-*•  Inception  and  the  end, 

With  all  the  span  of  life  between. 

Oh  can't  you  see  the  trend 
From  the  little  trees  like  babies, 

The  tender  little  trees 
Just  basking  in  the  sunshine 

And  whispering  in  the  breeze, 
To  the  old  trees,  the  great  trees 

Benevolent  and  kind. 
The  brooding  trees,  the  mystic  trees 

That  rustle  in  the  wind. 
The  shielding  trees,  protective  trees 

That  cast  their  shadows!  wide — 
In  the  fastness  of  their  branches 

The  Forest  Gods  abide. 


3.  Any  kind  of  poles  (without 
tacks  or  nails)  can  be  used.  Poles  arc 
held  upright  until  patient  is  dragged 
over  line. 

4.  The  stretcher  must  not  be  made 
until  the  patient  has  been  dragged  over 
the  designated  line.  It  must  be  tested 
before  being  used  by  raising  test  patient 
knee  high  from  the  floor.  The  test 
patient  must  be  on  the  stretcher  flat 
on  his  back. 

5.  The  three  man  lift  must  be  made 
by  orders  as  follows:  prepare  to  lift — 
lift — lower.  The  patient  is  lifted  only 
to  the  knees  and  the  stretcher  can  then 
be  placed  under  by  No.  2. 

6.  Running  with  patients  per- 
mitted. 

7.  Chair  carry  must  not  be  made 
until  patient  arrives. 

Skin  the  Snake 

npEAM  of   10  Scouts.     See  Scout- 
master    Handbook    Page  327,  for 
general  idea. 

1 .  Race  begins  with  teams  in  forma- 
tion standing  erect  and  hands  over  head. 

2.  At  word  GO  the  scouts  lock 
hands  and  proceed.  They  may  use 
either  hand  back. 

3.  Last  man  in  line  must  lie  down 
flat  touching  head  to  floor  before  he 
leads  his  team  back  to  starting  posi- 
tion. 

4.  In  any  heat  the  team  wins  that 
has  made  the  fastest  time  and  has  all 
scouts  back  on  their  feet  and  over 
finish  line  with  an  unbroken  line  of 
scouts. 

5.  A  break  in  the  line  disqualifies 
a  team.  Team  to  remain  unbroken 
until  over  the  line,  and  until  the  judges 
have  inspected  the  team. 


Wall  Scaling 


npEAM  of  8  Scouts.  Team  runs  25 
feet  and  goes  over  the  wall.  Time 
is  taken  when  the  last  man  hits  the 
ground  on  the  other  side.  Ropes  and 
staves  not  allowed.  The  wall  is  9 
feet  6  inches  high  and  the  face  is 
smooth.  A  2  X  4  will  be  fastened  on 
the  back  of  the  wall  30  inches  from  the 
top  as  a  foot  hold. 

Start:  All  teams  on  line  in  forma- 
tion about  25  feet  from  wall. 

Finish:  When  last  scout  hits  floor 
over  wall. 

Aids:  Ropes — staves — grasping  ends 
of  wall,  etc.,  not  allowed.  If  used, 
team  is  disqualified.  Top  and  face 
of  wall  only  part  that  can  be  touched. 

Harmonica  Band 

"^TOT  less  than  4  and  not  more  than 

8  members. 

Each  band  will  be  required  to  play 

"Springtime  in  the  Rockies"  and,  one 

piece  to  be  selected  by  the  band  itself. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


375 


1.  Adults  cannot  be  included.  (18 
years  and  over.) 

2.  Order  of  playing  will  be  deter- 
mined by  seating  arrangements. 

3.  Basis  of  judgment: 

1/^ — Spirit:  Tempo  and  General 
Interpretation. 

l/^ — Quality :  Tunefulness  and 
Harmony. 

3/3 — Carry  over:  Effect  on  Audi- 
ence. 

Song  Contest 

■pjERE  are  two  songs.  Both  should 
''-•^  be  learned  and  practiced.  Either 
or  both  may  be  called  for  in  the  con- 
test. All  Registered  members  of  the 
troop,  scout  and  scouiters,  who  arc 
present  sing. 

Fighting  for  Right 
Tune:      "Anchors  Aweigh" 

Fighting  for  right,  old  Scout, 

That's  life's  great  sport. 

Heads  up  and  to  the  front, 

You'll  always  find  us. 

Day  time — night  time. 

Fighting  for  right,  old  Scout, 

Fighting  for  right. 

No  matter  where  you  find  us, 

Down  with  error,  Up  with  honor — 

FIGHT! 

Here's  to  the  Good  Old  Troop 
Boys 

Tune:     "Frat" 

Here's  to  the  good  old  troop.  Boys, 

Here's  to  our  happy  days, 
Bring  out  the  good  old  songs.  Boys, 

Sing  out  the  good  old  lays. 
Here's  to  the  good  old  scouters 

Patient  and  kind  al  -  ways, — 
Here's  to  the  good  old  troop.  Boys, 

Here's  to  the  happy  days. 

1.  All  registered  members  of  the 
troop,  scouts  and  scouters,  present  at 
the  Circus  must  participate.  (Not  a 
selected  group  from  a  troop.) 

2.  The  leader  must  be  a  registered 
Scout  or  Scouter. 

3.  No  musical  accompaniment,  ex- 
cept pitch  pipe. 

4.  The  position  of  the  districts  at 
the  gymnasium  will  determine  the  order 
in  which  they  will  sing. 

5 .  Basis  of  judgment: 

33^/^ — Spirit:  Tempo  and  Gen- 
eral Interpretation. 

333/3 — Qi^ality-  Tunefulness  and 
Harmony. 

333/3 — Carry  Over:  Effect  on  au- 
dience and  Enunciation    (words). 

6.  Both  songs  to  be  sung.  Troops 
may  sing  each  song  through  twice. 


Report  of  Accomplishments  for  Jan.,  1933 


STAKES 

1 

M 

a 

a 
1 

Pi 

c 
1 

a 

1 

Wards  whose  average 
ndance  is  2  /3  or  more 
beir   enrollment 

tf 

|i 

la 

CD   {^ 

C  0 
ri  si 
"1 

having    con- 
once-a-month 
gram    in    all 

1.1 
0 

.5  2 

2 
"3 
.a 

.«    CD 

u 

G 

'> 
si 

'S 

si 

CO 

si 

0 

1 

13 

m  >H  P 

g 

"go 

So 

01 

■a'o 

-si 

IS 

i 

6 

i 

0 

ill 

AT3  m 

■0 

il 

AVI 

ll 

YM 

YL 

YM 

YL 

YM 

YL 

YM 

YL 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Alberta   

12 

6 

6 

2 

4 

1 

2 

3 

4 

4 

3 

2 

Alpine    

6 

6 

5 

6 

5 

1 

4 

5 

B 

3 

2 

2 

6 

B 

1 

Bannock    

9 

4 

4 

B 

3 

1 

1 

1 

* 

3 

8 

Bear  Lake  

8 

8 

8 

4 

6 

1 

3 

3 

2 

* 

6 

4 

Bear  River  

12 
6 

12 

12 
4 

10 

8 
5 

2 

4 
2 

8 

6 
3 

1 

7 
2 

7 

1 

7 
2 

7 

8 
8 

6 

Beaver  

3 

Benson  

14 

12 

11 

9 

11 

2 

9 

8 

10 

• 

6 

3 

Big  Horn  

6 

5 

5 

4 

5 

1 

4 

4 

4 

* 

5 

& 

Blackfoot    

14 

6 

6 

5 

2 

1 

5 

5 

5 

* 

6 

6 

Blaine   

7 

2 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

Boise   

10 

9 

9 

4 

7 

4 

4 

3 

4 

10 

7 

6 

Box  Elder  

13 
9 



13 
5 

13 
5 

9 

2 

10 

4 

2 

8 
3 

8 
1 

8 
2 

4 
* 

10 
5 

8 

Burley  

5 

Cache  _.... 

8 

8 

8 

7 

8 

4 

7 

8 

7 

4 

7 

6 

7 

8 

7 

2 

Carbon    

14 

14 

4 

2 

2 

2 

3 

3 

3 

• 

3 

2 

Cassia    

5 

5 

5 

5 

4 

4 

2 

3 

1 

1 

3 

3 

3 

5 

4 

4 

Cottonwood    

10 

9 

10 

9 

8 

2 

7 

10 

8 

8 

8 

* 

9 

6 

Curlew  

7 

5 

5 

B 

4 

1 

3 

4 

4 

5 

1 

1 

3 

3 

Deseret    

12 

9 

9 

3 

9 

3 

4 

4 

4 

9 

9 

8 

East  Jordan  

11 

6 

11 

6 

11 

7 

6 

7 

1 

7 

7 

6 

• 

9 

8 

Emery   

11 

5 

8 

5 

7 

3 

6 

5 

7 

5 

5 

5 

5 

6 

6 

Ensign     

8 
11 

8 
9 

"""8 

8 
9 

8 

8 
8 

2 

8 
8 

....._. 

1 
9 

6 

8 

7 
8 

7 
8 

8 

* 

8 
8 

a 

Franklin  

8 

Fremont    

14 

14 

14 

10 

9 

1 

7 

12 

11 

« 

14 

14 

Garfield  

8 
10 

7 

5 

10 

7 

5 
10 

4 

3 

7 

5 

4 
9 

1 
8 

3 
9 

4 
9 

4 

* 

5 
9 

4 

Granite   

2 

Grant  

14 

13 

13 

9 

13 

12 

12 

12 

3 

13 

9 

Hollywood  

15 

9 

11 

9 

11 

7 

6 

7 

7 

14 

9 

10 

9 

3 

11 

7 

Hyrum  

10 

9 

7 

. 

5 

9 

1 

5 

5 

5 

1 

7 

(> 

Idaho  

8 

4 

4 

4 

3 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

4 

2 

Idaho  Falls  

14 

5 

14 

12 

14 
5 

12 

6 
1 

7 

i'i' 
5 

10 

3 

1 

9 

4 

9 

6 

9 

5 

8 
5 

12 
2 

11 

Juab  

Kanab    

7 

6 

6 

3 

4 

3 

3 

5 

3 

3 

6 

6 

Kolob   

6 

6 

6 

3 

4 

1 

4 

5 

5 

1 

6 

b 

Lehi   

7 

6 

6 

6 

6 

4 

5 

6 

6 

4 

5 

5 

* 

6 

4 

Liberty   

12 

12 

12 

7 

12 

2 

12 

12 

12 

* 

12 

6 

Logan    ,...  

11 
12 

10 
5 

9 

12 

10 

5 

9 
12 

8 
4 

7 
9 

10 
5 

9 
10 

5 
3 

7 
9 

8 
9 

8 
10 

9 
12 

7 
12 

5 

Los  Angeles  

11 

Lyman  

? 

3 

5 

7 

3 

5 

7 

1 

3 
3 

3 

3 

4 

2 

3 
3 

2 

4 

3 

3 

2 

4 
7 

4 

Malad    

7 

Maricopa  

10 

9 

10 

9 

10 

8 

8 

9 

9 

6 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

Millard    

7 

4 

6 

4 

6 

1 

4 

4 

6 

4 

4 

4 

4 

6 

6 

Minidoka    

7 

4 

2 

4 

2 

1 

3 

1 

2 

2 

1 

1 

* 

2 

2 

Moapa   

9 

7 

4 

3 

2 

1 

2 

2 

5 

B 

B 

Montpelier   .. 

14 

8 

9 

12 

5 

9 

12 
5 

3 



7 
4 

7 

11 
4 

4 
3 

7 
5 

7 
4 

8 
5 

• 

8 
4 

7 

Morgan 

Moroni  

5 

4 

4 

4 

4 

3 

2 

2 

1 

4 

4 

Mt.  Ogden   

8 

6 

5 

6 

7 

3 

3 

6 

5 

4 

7 

6 

6 

8 

6 

6 

Nebo    

9 

5 

5 

4 

4 

3 

3 

4 

* 

B 

B 

Nevada    

7 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

4 

1 

5 

1 

2 

2 

3 

* 

6 

6 

North  Davis  

7 

4 

4 

1 

4 

1 

3 

4 

3 



4 

3 

North    Sanpete.... 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

4 

3 

5 

5 

5 

5 

6 

* 

4 

3 

North  Sevier  

4 

4 

4 

2 

3 



4 

4 

3 

* 

2 

2 

North  Weber  

14 

10 

14 

9 

14 

4 

7 

6 

8 

3 

8 

6 

6 

* 

11 

8 

Ogden    

12 
11 

12 

7 

"10 

12 
7 

"10 

6 
3 

■■"5 

8 
3 

■■■"6 

2 
2 

12 

9 

12 
8 

12 
7 

* 
* 

12 

7 

10 

Oneida  

6 

Oquirrh  

6 

5 

6 

5 

6 

1 

1 

4 

4 

5 

6 

3 

* 

6 

3 

Palmyra    

9 

7 

7 

7 

7 

1 

6 

6 

7 

2 

7 

7 

6 

* 

4 

4 

Panguitch     

6 

4 

6 

4 

6 

3 

3 

3 

5 

3 

3 

3 

5 

6 

S 

Parowan  

11 

8 

7 

5 

7 

3 

4 

5 

i 

5 

3 

Pioneer   

11 
10 

9 
9 

10 

9 
9 

10 

2 

4 

3 

8 
9 

10 
2 

1 
8 

8 
8 

8 
8 

8 
7 

* 

10 
9 

8 

Pocatello  

9 

Portneuf  

8 

4 

5 

4 

5 

2 

3 

4 

4 

1 

4 

3 

2 

4 

4 

4 

Raft  River  

5 

4 

3 

2 

3 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

Rigby 

13 

5 

4 

5 

4 

4 

3 

2 

4 

1 

4 

4 

3 

3 

4 

4 

Roosevelt    

9 

5 

5 

1 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

5 

3 

Salt  Lake  

13 
10 

'"'5 

'""9 

....„ 

13 

9 

....„ 

6 

7 

"1 

10 
8 

1 
4 

12 
3 

12 
4 

12 
4 

9 

13 

8 

10 

San  Francisco  .... 

7 

San  Juan  

3 

2 

2 

1 

2 

,-.... 

2 

2 

1 

i 

2 

2 

San  Luis 

3 

8 

3 

8 

3 

7 

....„ 



3 

7 



2 
3 

2 
3 

2 
3 

2 

* 

2 
6 

2 

Sevier    

6 

Shelley  

9 

fi 

fi 

fi 

5 

'?, 

2 

6 

4 

1 

,5 

5 

4 

* 

6 

5 

Sharon  

7 

5 

5 

1 

4 

1 

1 

2 

4 

2 

Snowflake  

12 

8 

8 

5 

5 

6 

4 

4 

4 

3 

6 

5 

South  Davis  

8 



6 

6 

4 

5 

5 

4 

4 

* 

4 

2 

South  Sanpete  .... 

7 

7 

6 

5 

5 

2 

4 

4 

4 

7 

4 

3 

South  Sevier  

8 

8 

8 

7 

8 

2 

5 

5 

7 

2 

4 

4 

5 

* 

7 

B 

Star  Valley  

11 



11 

11 

8 

9 

3 

8 

7 

7 

* 

7 

St.  George  

10 

8 

6 

6 

8 

1 

5 

5 

5 

3 

4 

4 

St.  Johns  

5 

3 

5 

3 

4 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

* 

4 

2 

St.  Joseph  

16 

11 

11 

7 

9 

5 

11 

11 

10 

* 

11 

Summit   

14 

6 

5 

5 

5 

2 

2 

2 

5 

2 

Taylor   

6 

6 

6 

2 

2 

3 

4 

4 

4 

* 

4 

3 

Teton  

7 

2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

2 

2 

Timpanogos    

6 

5 

5 

5 

5 

2 

5 

5 

5 

1 

3 

3 

2 

5 

2 

Tintie 

4 

4 

4 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

4 

4 

Tooele    

11 

7 

9 

7 

9 

4 

7 

"3 

7 

5 

B 

6 

7 

6 

Twin  Falls  _. 

4 

3 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

3 

3 

Uintah  

9 

6 

7 

6 

7 

3 

3 

3 

6 

i 

7 

7 

7 

* 

6 

4 

376 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


Kewanee: 

Kewanee  Steel  Firebox 
Boilers 


are  Universally  Adopted  for 

L.  D.  S.  Chapels  and  all  Other 

Representative  Buildings 


HAWLEY-RICHARDSON- 

WILLIAMS  CO. 

District  Representatives 

204  Dooly  Bldg. 

Salt  Lake  City 


BE  INDEPENDENT 

No  Other  Vocation  So  Profitable  ! 

ENROLL  NOW 

For  a  Complete  Course  at  the 

Quish  School  of  Beauty  Otiiture 

The  Best  in  the  West 

304-9  Ezra  ITiompson  B!dg. 
SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 

For    Further    Information 

and    Catalog    Call 

Wasatch  7560  oi 

Fill  in  This 

Coupon 


Report  of  Accomplishments  for  Jan.,  1933 


STAKES 

a 
1 

bo 

t 

0  fl) 

«  to 

0  " 

No.  Wards  whose  average 
attendance  is  2  /3  or  more 
of   their   enrollment 

i 

No,    Wards    having    com- 
pjeited     class     discussions 
and   activities  to  date         i 

ia 

CO  cB 

^^ 

s 

en  o* 

No.    Wards    having    con- 
ducted their  once-a-month 
special     program     in     all 
departments   for :                   ! 

1 

So 
11 

3 
.a 

bo  <5 

.r-l    m 

to.S 

•a  0 

13 

P 

C 

|2;h 

YM 

YL 

YM 

YL 

YM 

YL 

I 
YM 

YL            Nov. 

Dec* 

Jan. 

Utah    

Wasatch    

Wayne  

Weljer 

West  Jordan  

Woodruff  

Yellowstone    

Zion  Park  

9 
9 

7 

9 

8 

4 

10 

6 

43 

14 

12 

9 

16 

5 

25 

8 
8 
4 

■■■■4 
7 
8 
23 
3 
5 

"9 
2 

9 

8 

....„ 

7 
4 
8 
5 
31 
3 
6 
5 
8 

■25 

8 
9 
4 

"3 

7 
6 
21 
3 
6 

""i 

2 

9 

8 

""s 

7 
4 
7 
6 
28 
3 
6 
5 
6 

■"22 

5 
3 
2 



....^ 

2 
6 

17 

1 
6 

2 

7 
6 

■-4 

5 
2 
4 
1 
23 
1 
6 
4 
8 

"24 

6 

7 
3 

""■3 
3 
3 
17 
3 
4 

■■■■7 

1 

8 
6 

5 
2 
6 
5 
26 
3 
4 
3 
7 

"is 

1 
1 

"1 

2 
5 
7 
1 
1 

"■3 

7 
6 
3 
5 
6 
4 
3 
5 
26 
1 
4 
1 
6 

16 

9 

7 

I 

6 
3 
4 
5 
24 
1 
5 
1 
6 

20 

9 
8 
4 
6 
3 
3 
4 
5 
24 
1 
5 
1 
5 

is 

* 

1 

6 
"27 

"3 

1 
6 

"u 

8 
8 
4 
8 
6 
4 
7 
4 

28 
3 
6 
4 
9 
2 

15 

7 
2 

4 
7 
4 
s 

8 
4 

27 
3 
4 
3 
9 
2 

12 

Calif.   Mission 

Western  States... 
Northern  States.. 
Canadian  Mission 
Northwestern    .... 

Texas  Mission 

Hawaiian    Mis 

♦Stakes. 

I  TAYLOR  AND 
COMPANY 


162  So.  Main  St. 

Are  Manufacturers  of 

School  Rings,  Pins  and 
Athletic  Awards 


f   Room  206  Boyd  Park  Bldg.  § 


was.   ji.jC? 


S^u^>r,(^^^\,^v.^ri(.^t.^(.^rti^'.U^'--^v^ri' 


TWO  QUARTERS  BEFORE  SEPTEMBER 


If  you  are  a  teacher  or  high 
school  graduate  in  a  school 
which  is  closing  early,  yon 
can  enroll  for  the  Spring  and 
Summer  quarters  at  Brig- 
ham  Young  University  and 
get  two-thirds  of  a  year  of 
work  before  next  September. 

WHY  NOT  DO  IT! 

The  Spring  Quarter  offers 
the  usual  rich  curriculum  of 
courses,  while  the  Summer 
Quarter  promises  to  be  bet- 
ter than  ever. 


L 


The  Dates:  spring  QUARTER:     MARCH  20  TO  JUNE  7 

SUMMER  QUARTER: 

FIRST  TERM,  JUNE  12  TO  JULY  21 
ALPINE  TERM,  JULY  24  TO  AUGUST  25 

BRIGHAM  YOUNG  UNIVERSITY 

PROVO,  UTAH 


San  Diego  Chapter;  Troop  9 

'"PHE  boys  of  troop  9  of  the  local  Boy 
Scouts  of  America  conducted  the 
conjoint  meeting  February  5,  1933. 
Everything  from  leading  the  congre- 
gation in  prayer  and  song  to  preaching 
the  sermon  was  directed  by  the  Scouts. 
Robert  HolHday,  Senior  Patrol 
Leader,  delivered  the  sermon  using  the 
following  scripture  for  text:  (Matt. 
25:37-41)  "Lord,  when  saw  we  thee 
an  hungered,  and  fed  thee  or  thirsty 
and  gave  thee  drink.  When  saw  we 
thee  a  stranger  and  took  thee  in,  or 
naked  and  clothed  thee,  Or  when  saw 

WP  thee  .sick  or  in  nrison  anr)  ramp  nnrn 

thee.  And  the  king  shall  answer  and 
say  unto  them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you 
Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of 
the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have 
done  it  unto  me." 

Every  boy,  upon  being  introduced 
to  the  congregation  arose  and  talked  on 
one  of  the  twelve  Scout  laws. 

The  scribe,  Edward  Sadlier,  ex- 
plained the  significance  of  the  Scout 
oath  and  sign. 

The  bugler,  Lee  Mendenhall,  dem- 
onstrated the  various  calls.  Paul  John- 
son was  chorister.  Prayers  were  of- 
fered by  Ross  Tenney  and  Keith  Pace. 

The  Scoutmaster,  Mr.  Melvin  Free- 
bairn,  spoke  on  the  Spirit  of  Scout 
work.  Pointing  out  the  fact  that  any- 
one who  does  a  good  turn  to  someone 
every  day  is  a  Scout  at  heart  and  enjoys 
the  great  enrichment  of  life  through 
personal  service  to  fellowman. 

Marie  Kemp  and  Leila  Wright  sang 
a  duet  "A  Flag  Without  a  Stain." 

Scout  work  is  progressing  in  the 
San  Diego  Chapter  by  the  use  of  the 
slogan:  "We  stand  for  enrichment  of 
life,  through  constructive  use  of  leis- 
ure and  personal  service  to  fellow- 
man." 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April^  1933 


377 


^Let's  Plant  a  Flower  Garden- 


into  prime  condition,  before  they 
sow  seeds,  cultivate  the  plants,  and 
so  lose  their  superfluous  averdupois 
in  adverse  ratio  to  the  growth  of 
their  marigolds. 

For  women,  gardening  is  an 
ideal  occupation.  They  will  soon 
omit  the  use  of  rouge  and  lip  stick, 
when  the  dew  kisses  their  faces  as 
they  bend  over  the  roses,  and  the 
sun  paints  them  with  living  pink 
as  they  tie  the  dahlias  to  stakes. 

TF  you  are  beginning  seriously  to 
dislike  your  husband  because  he 
cannot  provide  you  with  modern- 
istic furniture  and  cloth-of-gold 
gowns  and  diamond  necklaces,  go 
in  for  gardening.  Learn  about 
annuals  and  perennials  and  vines 
and  shrubs  and  trees  and  lily  pools. 

Plant  some  seeds  right  now,  in 
a  box,  and  watch  for  the  miracle  of 
germination.  Then,  when  April 
suns  have  warmed  the  earth  and 
May  is  here,  transplant  the  green 
infants  to  their  places  outside. 
Water  them,  keep  the  earth  stirred 
up  around  them,  and  wait  for  the 
first  buds  to  burst  into  glory  of 
perfect  bloom. 

Before  you  know  it,'  you  will 
have  forgotten  all  about  fine 
clothes,  and  you  will  yearn  only 
for  some  stout  gardening  gloves 
and  a  pair  of  high  laced  boots, 
which  you  can  wear  in  the  garden 
to  prevent  pebbles  from  worming 
their  way  under  your  toes.  And 
as  for  diamonds  and  such-like 
foolishness,  you  will  revel  in 
myriads  of  dew  diamonds  spark- 
ling on  the  hollyhocks  and  daisies, 
nor  will  you  crave  any  other. 

When  you  have  finally  reached 
the  stage  where  you  can  answer 
your  husband's  magnanimous 
offer  of: 

"Here,  my  dear,  take  this  dollar 
I  have  no  use  for,  and  go  buy 
yourself  a  swell  new  dress"  with 
answering  phrase: 

"No,  indeed,  I  don't  need  a 
dress,  but  I'll  buy  a  package  of 
meconopsis  Baileyi  seeds  with  it," 
then  you  are  a  real,  honest-to- 
goodness,  dyed  in  the  wool  gar- 
dener! 

If  you  are  a  woman  full  of  fear, 
trembling  with  the  knowledge  that 
youth  has  passed  you  by  and  that 
age,  with  greying  hair  and  faded 
eyes,  is  pursuing  you,  start  a  flower 
garden. 


Make  a  hobby  of  irises  or  climb- 
ing roses  or  delphiniums.  Every 
day  spent  in  your  garden,  with 
trowel  in  the  sweet  brown  earth 
and  with  hands  training  the  roses, 
will  cause  two  days  of  age  to  drop 


Continued   from 

page  33  7 


from  your  shoulders.  Before  long 
you'll  be  younger  than  you  were 
at  one-and-twenty!  You  will  re- 
gard the  heavenly  blue  spires  of 
the  delphiniums  with  such  eyes  of 
love  that  your   face  will   be  pre- 


INDEX  TO  ADVERTISERS 

Advertisers  in  The  Improvement  Era  may  be  depended  upon. 

Patronize  them 
Company  Page 

American  Smelting  i^  Refining  Co.  383 

Beneficial  Life  Insurance  Co.  Back  Cover 

Bennett  Glass  ^  Paint  Co.  380 

Brigham   Young   University   376 

Deseret  News  Press  - 3  82 

Grant,  Heber  J.  SJ  Co.  381 

Hotel  Temple  Square  _ 381 

Kewanee  Boiler  Co.  376 

L.  D.  S.  Business  College  377 

MacMillan   Co.     - 3  8 1 

Mitchell  Beauty  Shoppe  382 

Quish  School  of  Beauty  Culture  3  76 

Ramshaw   Hatcheries     ^^^ 

Salt  Lake  Knitting  Works  383 

Standard   Brands,    Inc.    379 

Taylor  ^  Co.    — . , 376 

Utah  Agricultural  College  Inside  Front  Cover 

Utah  Beet  Sugar  Co.  383 

Utah  Gas  ^  Coke  Co.  378 

Utah  Oil  Refining  Co.  . Inside  Back  Cover 

Utah  Power  «  Light  Co.  _.„_ 379 

Z.  C.  M.  I.  . : 380 


How  young  people  can 
create  their  own  jobs 


A  prominent  educator  recently  said, 
"No  young  man  or  young  woman 
need  be  idle  today.  If  they  will 
enroll  in  a  good  business  school,  they 
will  immedii^tely  be  faced  with  the 
job  of  learning  business  methods. 
When  they  are  graduated,  they  will 
have  specialized  ability  and  knowl- 
edge to  sell;  and  then  they  will  have 
the  job  of  "selling"  their  ability  to 
some  business  man  who  needs  it. 
Certainly  there  is  no  reason  to  be  out 
of  a  job  when  these  opportunities  are 
open." 

Changes  are  constantly  taking  place 


.STENOGRAPHIC 
.SECRETARIAL 
CIVIL  SERVICE 


.OFFICE 


in  Business.  While  positions  are 
scarce,  those  that  tare  available  go  to 
the  applicants  who  are  best  trained. 
As  business  continues  to  improve, 
those  who  have  prepared  for  better 
times  will  get  the  good  positions. 

At  L.  D.  S.  Business  College,  stu- 
dents are  trained  for  !  business  in 
minimum  time  and  at  low  cost.  Our 
Employment  Department  keeps  in 
constant  touch  with  business  firms. 

Check  in  the  space  below  the  type 
of  work  which  interests  you  and 
return  this  ad  for  complete  details. 
No  obligation. 

BOOKKEEPING 
....ACCOUNTING 
....BUSINESS   ADMINISTRATION 
MACHINE 


L.  D.  S*  Business  College 


(A  Department  of  the  L.  D.  S.  College) 


Your  Name 
Address    


378 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


FREE 
TRIAL 

in  your  own  home! 


An  Aiitomafiei 

%atum(^ 

Wafer  Healer 


We  will  install  a  modern 
automatic  Natural  Gas  water- 
heater  in  your  home  for  a  30 
day  free  trial,  with  no  obliga- 
tion on  your  part.  This  offer 
is    good    during    April    only. 

It  will  give  you  an  opportun- 
ity to  actually  experience  the 
unequalled  convenience  of 
hot  water,  instantly  available 
at  the  turn  of  the  tap,  at  any 
hour  of  the  day  or  night. 

No  home  can  be  called  really 
modern  without  automatic 
hot  water  service.  It  will  sur- 
prise you  to  find  out  just  how 
economical  Natural  Gas  hot 
water   service   is. 

Come  in  or  phone  us   for 
further   particulars. 

UTAH  GAS  &  COKE  CO. 

OGDEN  GAS  CO. 

WASATCH  GAS  CO. 


sented  to  the  world  shining  with 
a  new  beauty. 

V'ES,  gardening  is  a  wonderful 
thing.  The  simplest  food  is 
ambrosia  and  pure  water  is  nectar 
when  you  come  indoors  from  the 
perennial  borders,  with  a  raven- 
ous appetite.  Your  first  thought 
on  awakening  will  be,  not  of  the 
worries  and  trials  of  the  day  ahead, 
but  of  the  sweet  breath  of  the  lilac 
beneath  your  window.  Your  first 
act  will  be,  not  to  attack  the 
kitchen  stove  with  the  frying  pan, 
but  to  run  out  to  the  Shirley  pop- 
pies that  you  may  see  what  new 
gowns  they  have  donned  since 
yesterday. 

And  before  you  climb  into  bed, 
deliciously  tired  from  the  most  de- 
lightful labor  in  the  world,  you 
will  slip  out  to  say  goodnight  to 
the  garden,  and  you  will  find  the 
moonlight  making  radiant  the 
webs  of  the  spiders,  who  are  busily 
engaged  in  devouring  the  aphids 
which  are  the  flowers'  enemies. 


There  is  no  happier  place  on 
earth  than  a  garden,  one  you  have 
made  yourself  with  the  help  of 
God,  and  no  better  place  in  which 
to  grow  old.  A  white  painted 
bench  beneath  the  apple  tree  is 
finer  than  all  the  modernistic  furn- 
iture in  the  world,  and  the  dresses 
worn  by  the  larkspurs  and  corn- 
flowers put  our  worldly  fripperies 
to  shame. 

Gardeners  never  dread  the 
thought  of  death,  for  they  dream 
of  what  the  gardens  must  be  like 
in  heaven,  where  the  weeds  will  all 
be  glorified;  or  where,  no  doubt, 
we  shall  see  through  diff^erent  eyes 
and  so  observe  loveliness  in  the 
dandelion,  and  learn  lessons  from 
the  wild  morning  glory. 

"The  kiss  of  the  sun  for  pardon. 
The    song    of    the    birds    for 
mirth; 
We  are  nearer  God's  heart  in  a 
garden 
Than  anywhere  else  on  earth." 
— Garnet/. 


^Knows  All^  Sees  All  and  Tells  All 


"Oh,  oh  Larry!  Oh,  isn't  it 
wonderful?  You're  an  author. 
Mme.  Yerzini  knows  everything. 
Didn't  I  tell  you  she  was  a  \von- 
der?" 

"Yeah  you  told  me,"  replied 
Larry,  thinking  of  the  long  hours 
spent  with  the  portable  and  the 
service  rendered  him  by  the  brother 
chapters  of  Iota  Beta  Chi. 

"Now  maybe  you'll  listen  to  me 
Mr.  Hamilton  when  I  talk  about 
fortune  tellers.  I  should  think 
this  would  convince  you  that  they 
know  what  they're  talking  about," 
she  exclaimed  triumphantly. 

Larry  felt  his  cue  at  hand  and 
grasped  it  quickly.  "Oh  Fm  about 
convinced  all  right.  I  had 
terview  with  Mme 
day,"  he  informed 
antly. 

"You  did?  Why  Larry,  you 
didn't  tell  me  over  the  phone. 
What  did  she  say.   I'm  so  excited." 

"Oh  she  told  me  a  lot;  a  lot 
about  my  future  I  never  could  have 
dreamed  about,  and  if  I  had,  I 
would  have  called  it  a  bad  dream 
and  hoped  it  wouldn't  ever  come 
true,"  he  informed  dolefully. 

"What  do  you  mean  Larry? 
Good  heavens,  I  never  saw  you  so 
provoking.     Tell  me  all  about  it 


an  m- 
Yerzini    to- 
Iris   nonchal- 


Continued  from 

page  341 

and  don't   make   me   drag   it  out 
of  you  syllable  by  syllable." 

"Well,"  said  Larry  slowly,  "I 
was  sort  of  surprised  to  hear  that 
my  wife  was  going  to  be  a  bru- 
nette." He  glanced  slyly  at  the 
fair  halo  of  curls  framing  Iris'  face 
and  continued,  "Then  I  was  told 
she  would  be  taller  than  the 
average  girl  and  have  blue  eyes." 

iNOW  prominent 
among  the  charms  of  Miss  David 
were  her  dainty  diminutiveness  and 
deep  brown  eyes  fringed  with 
golden  lashes.  A  hurt  "Oh!" 
seemed  to  escape  from  her  lips  but 
Larry's  voice  continued  inexorably. 

"And  do  you  know  what  struck 
me  so  funny  is  that  Mme.  Yerzini 
could  go  into  such  detail.  She  said 
this  girl  would  be  ,an  artist  who- 
designed  and  made  all  her  own 
clothes  and  also  that  she  could  cook 
marvelously." 

Iris  could  play  the  piano. 

"That's  a  funny  combination 
isn't  it?  I  never  would  have 
picked  out  a  girl  like  that  for  me, 
but  I  guess  these  soothsayers  know 
what  they're  talking  about. 

"Yes,  I  guess  so,"  Iris  replied  in 
a  quiet  voice,  so  quiet  as  to  be  al- 
most inaudible.     "And  I  guess  they 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April^  1933 


379 


don't  ever  make  mistakes  do  they?" 
she  questioned  with  vague  pleading 
in  her  voice. 

"No,  I  suppose  not.  At  least 
not  fortune  tellers  like  Mme.  Yer- 
zini.  She's  regular,"  Larry  spoke 
with  a  warmth  of  feeling  toward 
the  Madame  which  he  most  cer- 
tainly had  not  felt  before  tonight. 

"Oh,  do  you  think  so?" 

"Why  sure.  Don't  you?"  Larry 
queried  incredulously. 

"Well  you  know  everyone  must 
make  mistakes  sometimes  and  I 
was  thinking  maybe  she  was 
wrong  about- — -about — " 

"About  what?"  Larry  was  per- 
sistent. 

"About  the  girl  you  are  going 
to  marry,"  Iris  blurted  out  almost 
tearfully. 

"You  mean  you  don't  trust  her 
— you  don't  believe  what  she  said 
— what  she  told  me  with  her  very 
own  lips?"  Larry's  tone  was  hor- 
rified at  such  sacrilege  but  his  grin 
hidden  by  the  darkness  was  broad 
and  gleeful. 

"Well  do  you?"  Iris  parried. 

"Why  yes.  How  could  I  help 
it?  She  seemed  so  uncanny  in 
knowing  my  genius  for  writing. 
It  might  never  have  been  brought 
to  light  but  for  her  telling  you." 

Iris  sensed  sarcasm  but  could  not 
put  her  finger  on  it. 

"Well  it  doesn't  come  natural 
to  you.  I'll  bet  you  couldn't  write 
another  story  if  you  had  to — much 
less  sell  it."  She  had  risen  to  her 
feet  and  was  half  sobbing.  "Mme. 
Yerzini's  a  great  fat  old  fraud  and 
I  don't  believe  a  word  she  says. 
Fortune  tellers  are  all  frauds.  They 
only  say  what  happens  to  come 
into  their  minds.  She  just  alter- 
nates with  tall  dark  girls  with  blue 
eyes  and  small  light  brown-eyed 
ones.  You  heard  the  wrong  one 
was  all." 

"Do  you  mean  that  Iris.  Do 
you  mean  they're  all  fakes  and  you 
don't  believe  them?" 

"Yes,  every  word  of  it.  I  hate 
them  and  I'll  never  go  near  one 
again!" 

"Is  that  a  promise?  Can  I  de- 
pend on  it  Iris?"  Larry's  tone  was 
so  eager,  so  happy  and  triumphant 
that  Iris,  trying  to  dry  her  tears 
with  a  small  square  of  lace,  looked 
up  out  of  one  brown  eye  at  him. 

He  was  standing  close  to  her 
now.  She  felt  his  arms  around 
her.  "Larry,  why  did  you  ask  me 
if  it  was  a  promise?" 

Larry; S  head  bent  down, 
and  he  was  whispering  in  her  ear: 


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"I  just  wanted  to  hear  you  say 
you  wouldn't  ever  trust  your 
future  again  to  a  stranger.  I  think 
it's  much  nicer  to  have  someone 
you  know  handle  things  like  that. 
Now  for  instance  I'd  advise  you  to 
keep  close  to  a  tall  dark  young 
man,"  he  said,  tightening  his  arms 
about  her,  "because  he  isn't  en- 
tirely responsible  for  himself  when 
he's  near  an  adorable  little  girl 
with  blond  curls  and  brown  eyes, 
and  he  might  need  first  aid. 

There  was  silence  on  the  porch 
while  the  small  blond  girl  rendered 
first  aid  with  her  eyes  closed. 

"Oh,"  she  said  finally,  taking  a 
deep  breath,  "I'm  so  happy." 

"Are  you,"  said  Larry  huskily, 
so  m  1. 


They  were  sitting  in  the  porch 
swing  lagain,  his  arms  still  about 
her.  She  was  leaning  back  on  his 
shoulder  contentedly  and  the  swing 
moved  back  and  forth  slowly. 
Suddenly  Larry  spoke. 

"Iris  when  you  told  me  that  day 
you'd  seen  Mme.  Yerzini  the  sec- 
ond time,  did  she  really  pull  the 
same  line  about  you  marrying  an 
author?" 

Iris  giggled  delightfully  and 
snuggled  closer. 

"No  she  didn't.  The  second 
time  she  said  I  was  going  to  marry 
a  young  man  who  was  greatly  in- 
terested in  animals — dogs  partic- 
ularly, but  you'd  worked  so  hard 
on  that  story  I  didn't  dare  tell 
you." 


^Protecting  the  American  Job 


chine  to  lighten  the  work  on  the 
people,  but  they  should  also  be 
required  to  employ  at  least  90  per 
cent  of  the  workers  on  the  job 
with  the  machine  or  pay  into  an 
employment  protective  fund  an 
amount  equal  to  90  per  cent  of  the 
wages  saved  by  the  displacement 
of  the  workers  laid  ofi^. 

The  firm  could  work  their  em- 
ployees on  the  4  hour  a  day,  the 
3  day  a  week,  or  any  combination 
they  wished  to  work  out,  but  they 
would  have  to  pay  ^a  minimum 
wage  of  $25  per  week  whether  they 
employed  the  workers  one  hour  a 
week  or  48  hours  a  week. 

^WENTY-FIVE  dollars  per 
week  minimum  wage,  may 
seem  a  little  high,  but  if  we  build 
the  nation's  business  on  a  $25  a 
week  standard,  the  nation's  busi- 
ness will  rise  to  the  $25  per  week 
standard  as  easily  as  it  will  to  a 
$  1 0  per  week  standard.  The  only 
difference  is,  that  the  larger  the 
volume  of  money  in  circulation  the 
higher  the  standard  of  living. 

If  we  are  to  use  the  machine  as 
a  standard  of  labor,  then  we  must 
have  a  minimum  wage  standard 
for  labor. 

If  the  American  job  is  protected 
in  this  way,  it  will  soon  create  a 
purchasing  power  for  the  nation, 
and  business  will  soon  function 
again  properly.  If  we  continually 
allow  machinery  to  be  used  as  a 
means  of  displacing  men,  as  a  profit 
saving  scheme,  without  any  restric- 
tion, then  we  are  failing  to  protect 


Continued   from 
page  345 

the  purchasing  power  of  the  na- 
tion. Men  must  be  employed  at  a 
reasonable  wage  or  men  will  not 
have  a  reasonable  purchasing 
power. 

The  tax  money,  collected  from 
the  protection  of  American  jobs, 
should  not  go  into  the  general  tax 
fund,  but  a  new  tax  system  should 
be  created  with  it,  to  be  known  by 
some  such  name  as  the  Protective 
Employment  Fund,  this  money  to 
be  used  only  as  a  means  of  creating 
jobs  for  men  whom  industry  could 
not  use. 

Our  government  should  not  in- 
dulge in  any  kind  of  industrial 
pursuit  or  business  other  than 
governmental  business,  but  should 
devotei  the  Employment  Fund  to 
road  building,  park  building  and 
other  work  necessary  to  the  safety, 
comfort,  and  education  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  should  leave  industry  to 
the  public,  in  order  to  give  the 
people  an  incentive  to  work  to. 

There  are  enough  dangerous 
railroad  crossings  and  bad  curves 
on  our  pub  Tic  roads  to  employ 
the  majority  of  our  unemployed 
for  a  year  or  two,  and  other  work 
could  easily  be  developed  from 
time  to  time.  All  that  is  needed  is 
the  necessary  capital,  and  labor 
saving  machinery  can  furnish  that 
capital  if  it  is  governed  correctly. 
With  a  labor  protective  tax  on 
labor  saving  m'achinery,  a  great 
many  people  would  be  put  back 
to  work  in  the  many  industries  and 
businesses  that  are  now  using  all 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


381 


labor  saving  devices.  More  jobs 
would  also  give  us  back  that  buy- 
ing power  that  we  now  miss  so 
much,  and  that  we'  must  have  if  we 
are  to  remain  a  progressive  com- 
merical  nation. 

TXfE  have  already  modernized 
our  nation's  business,  now 
let  us  go  to  work  modernizing  the 
nation's  tax  system.  Our  present 
tax  system  is  as  ancient  as  the 
history  of  the  world.  Let  us  tax 
justly  the  machine  that  makes  the 
profits,  that  creates  great  wealth. 
If  we  bring  our  taxing  system  up 
to  date,  we  will  not  have  to  worry 
about  taxing  million  dollar  a  year 
incomes. 

We  must  not  go  to  work  with 
the  thought  in  our  minds  of  de- 
stroying machinery,  but  only  with 
the  thought  of  distributing  the 
wealth  that  large  labor  saving 
machines  create.  We  must  make 
the  machine  age  support  all  the 
people,  instead  of  trying  to  make 
a  few  of  the  people  support  the 
machine  age.  A  man  should  be 
allowed  a  fair  profit  on  his  in- 
vestment, but  he  should  not  be  al- 
lowed all  the  profit  at  the  expense 
of  other  people  who  are  forced 
into  starvation  by  the  large  profits. 

If  we  do  this,  the  dark  shadow 
of  depression  will  gradually  lift 
from  the  nation.  If  we  fail  then 
we  are  doomed  to  travel  on  in  the 
ruts  of  depression.  Business  de- 
pends on  buying  power,  and  buy- 
ing power  depends  on  the  number 
of  people  employed,  plus  the  wages 
paid  those  people,  and  all  the 
tongue  wagging  and  money  jug- 
gling in  the  world  cannot  change 
that  fact. 

Let  us  "Protect  the  American 
Job."  For  in  that  way,  and  that 
way  only,  can  we  protect  the  pur- 
chasing power  of  our  nation,  and 
prosperity  can  never  return  until 
we  have  a  purchasing  power. 

^Christmas    Trees 
Alive  at  Our  Doors 

Continued   from 

page  350 

with  special  care  in  choice  situa- 
tions, it  should  live  and  thrive.  If 
so,  we  have  at  hand  the  means  of 
making  beautiful  our  parks  and 
gardens  and  of  providing  in  open 
city  spaces  live  trees  that  will  pre- 
vent and  make  unnecessary  the 
destruction  of  the  vast  numbers  of 
young  evergreens  now  carelessly 
wasted  for  the  Christmas  market. 


"//  /  were  sunk  in  the  lowest  pit,  with  all  the  Rocky 
Mountains  piled  upon  me,  still  would  I  hope  and  strive.  .  .  ." 

JOSEPH  SMITH 

An  American  Prophet 

By  JOHN  HENRY  EVANS 

For  a  hundred  years,  world-wide  controversy  has  raged  over 
everything  Mormon.  Here  is  an  impartial  analysis  and  appreciation 
of  the  strange,  spectacular,  fascinating  personality  which  embodies 
the  genesis  of  Mormonism. 

The  book  is  divided  into  three  parts:  the  prophet's  career,  his 
religious  philosophy,  and  his  account  of  his  own  life  and  his  works. 

Stranger  than  fiction,  more  exciting  than  a  popular  mystery  .  .  . 
because  it  is  based  on  demonstrable  FACTS! 

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UTAH  HOME  FIRE  INSURANCE  CO. 

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ERNEST  C  ROSSITER,  Manager 


■p     nil 


382 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


TO  THE  READERS   OF   THE  ERA 

MITCHELL'S 
BEAUTY  SHOPPES 

Will    Give    the   Following    Prices 

Permanent  Waves,  Reg.  $5.50 — $3.00;  Reg. 

$4.50— $2.50 

Shampoo,   Finger  Wave  and   Manicure,  or 
Color  Rinse  and  Neck  Trim,  all  for  $1.00 

Call  Was.  10316  for  Appointment 

Medical   Arts  Bldg^   Salt   Lake   City,  Utah 

Eccles  Bldg.         Ogden,  Utah         Phone  760 

Sugar   House  Beauty   Salon 
1053  E  21st  So.  Hyland  8553 

When  you  come  to  Salt  Lake,  plan  to  make 
our  place  your  headquarters. 


NOV 


7 


I 


T'S  what  we  can  do  for 
you  NOW  that  really  counts 
with  you. 


Not  tomorrow,  or  next  week, 
nor  when  business  picks  up, 
but  NOW. 


NOW  stands  for  immediate 
action  and  that's  just  what 
we  can  give  you. 


And  along  with  the  action, 
we  give  you  printing  and 
bookbinding  (of  the  highest 
standard  of  quality,  at  low 
cost.  Prices  and  quality  of 
workmanship  are  in  line  with 
what  is  demanded  NOW. 


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Call  Was.  550 
or  write 


^I  Why  the  Rocky  Mountain  Faculty 
Athletic  Conference 


THE 


T> 


eseret  News 


29  Richards  Street 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


length  of  playing  season,  beginning 
of  football  practise,  and  length  of 
practise  periods,  nature  of  awards, 
rules  for  championships,  conference 
records  and  rules  under  which 
various  sports  are  conducted. 

At  the  beginning  of  each  season 
in  any  sport  a  complete  list  of 
eligible  players  is  sent  to  all  mem- 
bers t)f  the  conference.  This  list 
contains  data  concerning  the  ac- 
ademic status  of  each  player,  his 
athletic  participation,  his  means  of 
support,  and  sources  of  income. 
Any  questions  arising  with  regard 
to  a  player  are  referred  directly  to 
his  faculty  representative.  If  the 
question  is  not  satisfactorily  an- 
swered a  protest  may  be  entered. 
A  third  representative  is  then  called 
in  to  review  the  evidence.  His  de- 
cision is  binding. 

During  the  playing  season  the 
academic  work  of  players  is  checked 
before  each  game.  If  not  doing 
passing  work  in  two-thirds  of  full 
work,  a  player  is  declared  tempo- 
rarily ineligible.  He  may  restore 
his  eligibility  by  bringing  his  work 
up  to  passing  level. 

pRESHMEN  are  not  allowed  to 
play  intercollegiate  football. 
However,  they  may  participate  in 
winter  and  spring  sports.  Junior 
college  transfers  are  not  eligible  to 
play  freshman  football.  Otherwise, 
they  are  treated  as  entering  fresh- 
men, except  that  all  competition 
other  than  first  year  football  counts 
against  their  total  participation. 

Good  sportsmanship  demands 
that  games  shall  be  well  conducted 
and  by  .competent  officials.  To 
meet  this  demand  the  conference  in 
1921  created  the  o&ce  of  Adjuster. 
This  office  has  been  held  by  C. 
Henry  Smith,  Librarian,  Univer- 
sity of  Colorado.  At  present  all 
football  officials  are  required  to  take 
a  written  examination  on  the  rules 
of  the  game.  The  rating  given 
them  by  this  test  and  the  record  of 
their  ability  to  apply  their  knowl- 
edge in  the  handling  of  games  de- 
termines appointments  for  games. 
This  system  has  been  remarkably 
successful  in  maintaining  a  high 
standard  of  efficiency  among  offi- 
cials. It  has  gone  far  toward 
elimination  of  suspicion  of  favor- 
itism toward  one  team  or  another. 

While   taking  care  of  its   own 


Continued  from 

page  347 

internal  affairs  the  conference  has 
had  an  active  interest  in  national 
activities.  From  the  very  first  it 
has  had  a  representative  on  the 
executive  committee  of  the  National 
Collegiate  Athletic  Association. 
Dr.  H.  L.  Marshall,  representative 
of  the  University  of  Utah  since 
1916,  has  served  on  this  committee 
for  the  past  four  years.  One  of  the 
most  important  functions  of  the 
national  body  is  the  formulation 
of  the  rules  which  govern  conduct 
of  intercollegiate  sports.  The 
Rocky  Mountain  region  has  been 
represented  on  all  of  the  important 
committees  for  a  number  of  years. 
H.  W.  Hughes,  athletic  director  of 
Colorado  Agricultural  College,  and 
C.  Henry  Smith,  faculty  athletic 
representative,  University  of  Colo- 
rado, have  served  on  the  football 
rules  committee.  E.  L.  Roberts, 
formerly  of  Brigham  Young  Uni- 
versity, has  been  an  important 
member  of  the  Basketball  rules 
committee.  D.  B.  Swingle,  faculty 
representative  of  Montana  State 
College  since  1917,  is  a  rftember  of 
the  wrestling  committee.  Others, 
prominent  in  track,  swimming  and 
minor  sports,  have  served  from 
time  to  time. 

TN  March,  1928,  the  North  Cen- 
tral Association  of  Colleges  and 
secondary  schools  adopted  a  set  of 
standards  of  athletic  control  which 
should  guide  the  athletic  policy  of 
its  members.  In  order  to  bring 
these  standards  clearly  before  its 
members  the  association  was  ex- 
tremely desirous  that  some  well  or- 
ganized conference  should  adopt 
them.  On  March  7,  1930,  a  meet- 
ing of  all  conference  members  with 
presidents  of  conference  institutions 
was  called  in  Denver.  The  stand- 
ards   were    adopted    and    are   now 


Administration  Buildings 
University  of  Denver 


The  Improvement  Era  for  April,  1933 


383 


being  enforced  in  the  several  insti- 
tutions. 

The  standards  follow: 

(1)  Final  decision  in  all  matters  of  ath- 
letic policy  shall  rest  with  the  faculty 
or  with  administrative  officers  repre- 
senting the  faculty. 

(2)  Academic  requirements  and  assign- 
ments of  scholarships,  student  aid 
funds,  and  remunerative  employment 
for  students,  shall  be  immediately 
and  finally  controlled  by  the  faculty, 
acting  directly  or  through  its  regu- 
larly constituted  officers  of  commit- 
tees, without  discrimination  either  in 
favor  of  or  against  athletics. 

(3)  Payments  of  money  to  students  for 
services  as  athletes,  hiring  athletes  or 
the  equivalent  of  such  procedure  and 
maintenance  of  free  training  tables 
are  not  permissible. 

(4)  Personal  solicitation  of  prospective 
students  by  athletic  coaches  through 
the  offering  of  any  such  special  in- 
ducements, as  'are  indicated  in  Sec. 
3   above,  is  not  permissible. 

(5)  Coaches  should  be  regularly  consti- 
tuted members  of  the  faculty,  fully 
responsible  to  the  administration. 

(6)  Faculties  should  control  and  keep 
within  reasonable  limits  the  amount 
of  time  devoted  to  athletics.  This 
refers  to  hours  of  daily  practice  as 
well  as  to  the  number  of  contests 
and  length  of  trips,  or  any  other 
athletic  requirement  which  detracts 
from  academic  efficiency. 

(7)  Athletic  conditions  should  be  normal 
and  stabilized  and  tenure  of  office  on 
approximately  the  same  basis  as  in 
other  departments,  and  where  this 
is  the  case,  salaries  of  coaches  should 
be  commensurate  with  salaries  paid 
to  men  of  equal  rank  in  other  depart- 
ments, and  should  be  paid  directly 
by  the  institution  for  services  ren- 
dered to  the  institution  and  must  not 
be  supplemented  from  any  other 
fund. 

(8)  All  athletic  funds  shall  be  either 
regularly  audited  by  or  directly 
handled  and  disbursed  by  the  institu- 
tion's business  office.  All  athletic 
expenditures  should  be  included  in 
the  institution's  budget. 

pURSUANT  to  acceptance  of  the 
standards  and  unanimous 
pledge  to  endeavor  to  enforce  them 
the  Rocky  Mountain  Faculty  Ath- 
letic Conference  was  the  first  to  be 
listed  as  an  approved  conference  by 
the  North  Central  Association. 
Since  that  time  ten  conferences  have 
been  approved.  North  Central 
territory  includes  twenty  states 
from  Ohio  to  Colorado,  south  to 
New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Oklahoma 
and  Arkansas  with  only  West  Vir- 
ginia south  of  the  Ohio  river,  north 
to  the  border  of  Canada.  Within 
this  territory  thirty-six  athletic 
conferences  operate.  R.  J.  Gilmore, 
secretary  of  the  conference  and  since 
1920  faculty  representative  of 
Colorado  College,  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  North  Central  As- 
sociation   committee    on   athletics. 


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792  Fine  Quality  Cotton 1.00 

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711   Silk  Stripe  Med.  Wt 1.00 

749  Fine  Quality  Cotton 85 

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720  Fine  Quality  Non-Run  Rayon 1.49 


FOR  MEN 

639  Mens      Fine     Quality     Non-Run 

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610  Ribbed  Light  Wt 89 

602  Extra  Fine  Quality  1.00 

614  Med.  Wt.  Ex.  Quality 1.00 

646  Light  Weight  Cotton 59 

663  Med.  Heavy  Unbleached  Cotton..  1.50 

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Light   Weight  Ribbed   Cotton 85 

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635 
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Do  not  fail  to  specify  New  or  Old  Style  and  if  for  Man  or  Woman,  also  state  if  long 

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Height  and  Weight.     Samples  Sent  Upon  Request. 

SALT  LAKE  KNITTING  STORE 

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j  SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 

I  PURCHASERS  OF 

I  Gold,  Silver,  Lead  and  Copper  Ore  and  Smelter  Products 

I  Ore  Purchasing  Department,  Seventh  Floor  McComick  Building 

j  Consign  all  ore  shipments  to: 

I  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Company 

i  Ship  Lead  Ores  to  Murray  Plant,  Murray,  Utah 

I  Ship  Copper  and  Siliceous  Ores  to  Garfield  iPlant,  Garfield,  Utah 

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1  Regarding  Shipments  and  Hand  Samples  to  700  McCornick  Building 

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UTAH 

BEET  SUGAR 

UTAH'S  FOREMOST  AGRICULTURAL 

ASSET 

Deserves  the  Support  of  Every  Loyal  Vtahn 

Insist  on  it  from  your  grocer — There  is  none 

better 

'Tlavor  with  sugar  and  you  flavor  with 

health" 


384 


^x^ 


ay\fC\^ 


WHERE  TO  ADDRESS  YOUR  MANUSCRIPTS 

AUTHORS  should  remember  that  all  manuscripts  for  The 
Improvement  Era  are  to  be  addressed  to  the  magazine  at 
47  East  South  Temple  St.,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  Some 
people  make  the  mistake  of  sending  them  to  Provo. 

THE  OTHER  NUMBERS  VELVET 

1WISH  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  January  number  of  the 
Era.     In  my  opinion  it  was  worth  the  subscription  price 
alone." 

Yours  truly, 

Susie  P.  Smith, 
President  Y.  L.  M.  I.  A.,  Alberta  Stake. 

FAINT  PRAISE,  BUT— WE  LIKED  IT 

JUST  a  few  words  of  praise  for  the  February  issue  of  the 
Improvement   Era.      I    thought   the   magazine    was   quite 
good  throughout. 

"Let's  have  more  of  Fava  K.  Parker's  poems,  as  I  thought 
"Amethyst"  in  the  February  issue  was  excellent." 

Very  truly  yours, 

Richard  M.  Gerber. 


M 


A  "HAILSTORM"  FROM  CALIFORNIA 

RS.  VINNA  HALE  CANNON,  of  Los  Angeles,  sends 
this  bit  up  from  the  metropolis  of  the  Southwest. 

BE  AN  AM 

XTTHY  stew  because  you're  not  a  was? 
^'''^     Fer  pat  sake  be  an  am. 
You  may  never  be  a  will  be. 

So  dig,  you  poor  old  clam. 
Just  buckle  in  an'  be  an  is; 

Don't  be  a  guy  that's  not. 
The  one  that  has  most  always  ^efs; 

So  try  to  be  a  got. 
Don't  blow  about  the  use  to  do; 

The  good  world  needs  a  does; 
Fer  better  be  an  is,  my  friend. 

Than  ever  be  a  was. 
A  will  be  may  become  an  is; 

But  a  has  been,  I  will  vow. 
Will  likely  just  remain  a  was; 

So  be  an  AM  right  now. 


EXCERPT  FROM  A  LETTER  TO  SUPERINTENDENT 
GEORGE  ALBERT  SMITH 

THE  Era  gets  better  than  ever.  The  January  number  has 
just  come  to  hand,  what  a  fine  picture  on  the  cover, 
of  those  Red  Indians,  and  the  matter  contained  therein  is  just 
great.  Maggie,  my  dear  wife,  is  as  eager  to  read  it  as  I  am, 
and  looks  for  its  coming  eagerly,  so  many  thanks  for  such  a 
gift,  it  is  a  wonderful  magazine. 

No  wonder  your  people  are  so  clever,  they  are  well  catered 
for  from  a  literary  standpoint,  what  a  help  such  a  magazine 
must  be  to  them.  The  articles  contain  a  mine  of  information, 
they  are  so  informative,  and  what  I  like  about  them  is  the 
writers  arc  so  sure  of  what  they  write  about,  its  facts,  and  "a 
fact  is  a  stubborn  thing."  God  bless  the  Era,  it  is  marrow  and 
fatness  to  me.     I  just  glory  in  its  contents." 

George  W.  Hancock, 

London,  Eng. 

THOUGHT  FEBRUARY  COVER  TOO  DIM 

'  I  ^HOUGH  we  have  had  no  written  criticisms  of  our  Febru- 

-■-   ary  cover,  friends  have,  in  a  few  cases,  declared  the  color 

to  be  too  dim.     We  could  only  reply  that  we  were  seeking 

that  delicate,,   dainty  effect   which  harmonizes  with  the  finer 


-onnA^CKxjvA. 


feelings  of  the  heart  especially  around  Valentine  Day.     Our 
cover  last  month  will  not  receive  the  same  criticism,  we  feel 
certain — but  then  Zion.is  always  an  eye  full. 

EXCHANGES  ARE  NOT  ALWAYS  APPRECIATED 

I  HAVE  been  going  to  write  you  for  a  long  time,  expressing 
my  appreciation  of  the  Improvement  Era,  which  comes 
to  me  on  an  exchange.  Although  not  a  member  of  the 
church,  I  enjoy  each  and  every  issue  of  the  Era,  and  my  wife 
and  children  read  each  number  from  cover  to  cover.  It  is  in- 
deed a  splendid  magazine,  brimming  with  wholesome  articles 
and  clean  fiction. 

"The  February  number  has  just  come,  and  I  anticipate  an 
evening  of  pleasant  entertainment  in  going  through  it." 


I 


A  CALIFORNIAN  SPEAKS 

FIND  the  Era  the  best  reading  that  comes  into  my  home, 
and  the  covers  are  excellent,  too." 

C.  Mace  Dewsnup. 

SHE  SUBSCRIBED  WILLINGLY  ENOUGH 

"New  York  City. 
TN  renewing  our  subscription,  I  cannot  refrain  from  telling 
A   you  how  we  enjoy  the  Era — it  is  truly  a  splendid  magazine. 

"As  a  child  I  lived  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state  (6 
miles  from  New  Mexico)  and  have  dug  pottery  while  hunting 
segos  and  so  have  been  so  interested  in  the  aj'ticles  about  the 
Indians.  The  Navajos  were  truly  a  regal  race.  But  it  is  all- 
fine — -every  bit  of  the  magazine." 

Sincerely, 
Charlotte  J.  Taylor." 

A  BOUQUET  FOR  HARRIS  WEBERG— ONE  OF  OUR 

ARTISTS 

I  WAS  well  pleased  with  the  lay-out  for  my  article,  "Great 
American  Women,"  in  the  Efa.  I  was  rather  proud  to 
have  the  article  in  this  particular  issue.  There  was  a  happy 
surprise  to  me  when  I  found  the  portrait  of  Donna  Marina 
corresponded  so  closely  to  my  mental  picture  of  her. 

Yours  very  truly, 

George  Gardner." 

FERN  ROSE  McBRIDE,  BURLEY,  IDAHO,  WRITES 

"Era"  Minded 

TT'EEP  the  home  fires  burning  brightly," 
-**-    He  said,  as  he  left  tonight, 
"I'll  be  home  from  meeting  early, 

Leave  the  fire  burning  bright. 
"You  needn't  wait  up  for  me,  my  dear. 

For  you're  sadly  in  need  of  sleep." — 
He  kissed  me  goodnight  and  hastened 

Out  in  the  snow — cold  and  deep. 

The  children  are  safely  tucked  in  their  bed. 

The  toil  of  the  day  is  done; 
I  sit  by  the  warm  fire  dozing — 

Then  remember — the  Era  has  come! 
So  then,  as  I  read  through  its  pages 

My  mind  wanders  out  the  four  walls. 
And  soon,  ere  I  knew  it,  I  heard  a  faint  step — 

The  sound  of  my  hubby's  foot-falls. 

"What,  not  in  bed  yet?"  he  jokingly  said. 

Then,  spying  the  Era,  he  smiled. 
So  we  read  and  we  read  and  we  read  and  we  read ! 
■  And  there  was  no  sleep — for  awhile! 

Fern  Rose  McBride. 


Keep  Your  Car 

YOUNG! 

Correct  Lubrication 
will  do  it! 


A  change  of  lubricant  in  transmission  and  differential  .  .  . 
a  heavier  grade  of  Vico  for  the  crankcase  .  .  .  thorough 
chassis  and  steering  gear  lubrication — those  are  the  things 
needed  by  most  cars  at  this  time  of  year.  Proper  lubrica- 
tion means  real  economy,  and  greater  motoring  enjoyment. 


Watch    daily    newspapers    for    the    year's    most    important 
announcement   to   motorists,   on 


aa 

ALWAYS  A  STEP  AHEAD! 


You    can    always    depend    on    the    service    and 
products  at  Pep   88   and   Vico   dealers 


Manufactured    and  Guaranteed   by 
Utah  Oil  Refining  Co.,  Salt  Lake  City 


58th  Annual  Conference  of  M.  I.  A. 


FRIDAY 


:-       SATURDAY       -:- 
JUNE  9,   10,   11,   1933 


SUNDAY 


The  annual  Conference  of  the  Young  Men's  and  Young  Ladies'  Mutual  Improvement 
Association  will  be  held  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  General  Board  Committees  are  now 
working  on  the  details  of  the  program  and  new  courses  of  study  and  activities  which  will 
then  be  ready  for  distribution  include — 

1.  The  introduction  of  programs  of  all  departments  for  1933-1934. 

2.  Grand  Finals  in  all  Church-wide  M.  I.  A.  Contests. 

3.  A  big  Scout  celebration  commemorating  the  Twentieth  anniversary  of  Scouting 
in  the  Church. 

4.  A  special  course  for  leaders  in  camping  and  recreation. 

5.  Special  mass  meetings  promoting  greater  understanding  and  enthusiasm  for  our 
Leisure-time  program. 

6.  The  introduction  of  the  Third  Year  feature    of    the    Three- Year-Plan — a    special 
Church-wide  project  in  recreation. 

7.  Annual  M.  I.  A.  reception  and  Grand  Ball. 

8.  A  final  meeting  Sunday  evening  in  the    Tabernacle    emphasizing    the    spiritual 
values  of  our  program. 

Of  unusual  interest  will  be  the  Grand  Finals  in  the  new  M.  L  A.  contest  in  Operetta. 

M.  L  A.  GENERAL  BOARDS. 


IS  NOT  JUST  A  HABIT 


"  A  /^  LJ      VEI  A  D       ^^^  MUST  FIGHT  TO 

l/\v^n        T   C/\K      JUSTIFY     ANDAUn. 

UREASE    PUBLIC     CONFIDENCE    BY     SATISFYING 

rHOUSANDS  OF  POLICYHOLDERS  WITH  THE  BEST 

IN  INSURANCE. 


Constant,  efficient,  watchful  su- 
pervision of  investnnents  has  kept 
the  Beneficial  in  sound  financial 
condition.  Even  during  the  past 
years  of  business  depression  the 
Beneficial  has  continued  its  ag- 
gressive  forward  march,  increas- 
ing in  strength,  stability  and 
progress. 


^he  BIG  HOME  COMPANY 


i 

i 


ENEFICIAL  LIFE 


INSURANCE    COMP 


HEBER  J.  GRANT.  President 


.  RALPHS,  Genera!  Manager